The impending closure of birthing services in Yarrawonga is a "travesty", according to the new Rural Doctors Association of Australia boss.
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And president John Hall said it could mean more services will go from the rural health service.
"They need to get their act together," Dr Hall told The Border Mail after his appointment on Friday.
"Maternity services are the linchpin that hold rural hospitals together and often means the hospital operating service is the next to go, there is often a flow on effect.
"Yarrawonga health could be significantly downgraded once the birthing services cease."
Yarrawonga Health announced they would suspend birthing services after January due to challenges relating to recruting skilled staff.
But Dr Hall said this "isn't an excuse".
"They need to get their act together and encourage more midwives and GPs to come to the rural area and stay there," he said.
Yarrawonga Health acting chief executive Kay Gall said the health service "very much recognises" the importance of local pregnancy care.
And they will reinstate the birthing service if they are able to hire more staff.
"Yarrawonga Health has proactively supported training and development of GPO and midwives, unfortunately the demand on the existing number of GPOs in town has lead to this decision," Ms Gall said.
"If this situation changed YH would reconsider its decision to suspend birthing.
"All our antenatal classes, clinics, postnatal care and domiciliary service will continue to be available to our community.
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"The safety of mothers and their babies, and the provision of safe and quality care always has to come first for our health service."
In 2018-2019 there were 26 babies born in Yarrawonga, with only women classified as low risk able to be supported in the birthing suite.
From January women will have to travel at least 45 minutes to either Wangaratta or Wodonga to give birth.
Ms Gall said there had been "sadness in the community" after the announcement.
"The community has expressed its sadness via the media as many local generations were born here and have shown their support for our dedicated team of GPOs and midwives for the high quality service they will undoubtedly continue to deliver with non-birthing maternity care," she said.
"The community is keen to support the transition to maintaining access to local antenatal and post-natal services.
"Yarrawonga Health is committed to supporting women's choice and values the support of our regional partners NHW and AWH working with our local maternity care team to ensure access to local maternity services."
