CHIRP Community Health and Castlemaine Health have been working closely together to consider options to strengthen community health services in the local area.
The Boards of CHIRP Community Health and Castlemaine Health are developing a plan for the integration of community services and will undertake staff and community consultation.
Lexi Randall-L’Estrange, Chair CHIRP Community Health said: “Both Boards believe that the integration of community services provides a feasible option to ensure the continued provision of accessible and responsive community health services for our local communities.
“A detailed plan for integration is being developed. It will consider the governance, financial, service, human resource and legal impacts of integration.
“Working together to provide integrated community health services in the Mount Alexander Shire is a positive step forward for both organisations. This positions us well to ensure inclusive and accessible services are available to our community both now and into the future,” she said.
Peggy Ronnau, Chair Castlemaine Health said: “Both organisations have a long and proud history of working together and by combining our unique strengths, we will further enhance community health services for the communities across Mount Alexander Shire.
“Staff and community consultation are important parts of the process and will inform the development of a comprehensive plan.
“It is important to note that all health service staff are valued and community health services will be enhanced. The integration will result in the combination of staffing and services currently delivered by both organisations.
“We are both pleased to be leading our organisations into this next stage, with a firm focus on sustainability and strengthening service delivery,” she said.
The plan to integrate community health services will aim to:
- Ensure future sustainability
- Enhance access to community health services across the Mount Alexander Shire
- Strengthen and enhance services to better meet the evolving needs of the community
- Share the burden of compliance and ensure that funding can be directed to services as much as possible
- Enhance opportunities for staff development/training/skill sharing and best practice.
We will keep people informed and engaged as we move through this process via the website, social media, local media, letters, meetings and consultation opportunities.
