THE boss of Walwa Bush Nursing Centre fears there are plans to merge her service with Albury Wodonga Health. Sandi Grieve said she had been told the Victorian Department of Health and Human Services was active on a major matter and warned she "wouldn't like the outcome of that larger piece of work". She said Walwa already had a governance pact with AWH via the department. "It's not a big stretch to think they would like amalgamation in the long term," Ms Grieve said. "The only reason I think the state government would be interested in amalgamation would be around cost-saving and the only savings would be through managerial processes with payrolll and it means Walwa would lose those people who do those tasks." Ms Grieve comments follow the Victorian Opposition's health spokeswoman Georgie Crozier questioning the state's Health Minister Jenny Mikakos in parliament about funding for bush nursing centres. The centres are concerned about being able to undertake accreditation tasks. Ms Grieve said small centres such as Walwa were being treated the same as major Melbourne hospitals despite differences in staff. "We agree standards help to provide a quality service, but it is around resources," she said. "We've been given $20,000 but that is not enough to get a consultant and not enough to employ somebody." Ms Mikakos did not respond specifically to Walwa's concerns and whether she would meet with the bush nursing centre staff when asked by The Border Mail. "We have increased funding for bush nursing centres every year since coming to Government so remote patients can access the high-quality care they need, closer to home," she said.
THE boss of Walwa Bush Nursing Centre fears there are plans to merge her service with Albury Wodonga Health.
Sandi Grieve said she had been told the Victorian Department of Health and Human Services was active on a major matter and warned she "wouldn't like the outcome of that larger piece of work".
She said Walwa already had a governance pact with AWH via the department.
"It's not a big stretch to think they would like amalgamation in the long term," Ms Grieve said.
"The only reason I think the state government would be interested in amalgamation would be around cost-saving and the only savings would be through managerial processes with payrolll and it means Walwa would lose those people who do those tasks."
Ms Grieve comments follow the Victorian Opposition's health spokeswoman Georgie Crozier questioning the state's Health Minister Jenny Mikakos in parliament about funding for bush nursing centres.
The centres are concerned about being able to undertake accreditation tasks.
Ms Grieve said small centres such as Walwa were being treated the same as major Melbourne hospitals despite differences in staff.
"We agree standards help to provide a quality service, but it is around resources," she said.
"We've been given $20,000 but that is not enough to get a consultant and not enough to employ somebody."
Ms Mikakos did not respond specifically to Walwa's concerns and whether she would meet with the bush nursing centre staff when asked by The Border Mail.
"We have increased funding for bush nursing centres every year since coming to Government so remote patients can access the high-quality care they need, closer to home," she said.
