Hospitals and health sites, including Wonthaggi, will retain their local names in the new Bayside Health service. BASS Coast Health (BCH) will merge with four other health services on January 1 2026 to form a new entity known as Bayside Health.
The boards of the five health services - including Alfred Health, Kooweerup Regional Health Service, Peninsula Health and Gippsland Southern Health Service -confirmed the merger this week.
Interim BCH CEO Professor Simone Alexander said the new health service would improve healthcare access across south-east metropolitan Melbourne, the Mornington Peninsula, South Gippsland and the Bass Coast.
The boards of the five health services - including Alfred Health, Kooweerup Regional Health Service, Peninsula Health and Gippsland Southern Health Service -confirmed the merger this week.
Interim BCH CEO Professor Simone Alexander said the new health service would improve healthcare access across south-east metropolitan Melbourne, the Mornington Peninsula, South Gippsland and the Bass Coast.
“This merger means patients will have easier access to more complex care, and they’ll have more specialist options available to them.
“Benefits for staff also include greater career development opportunities, like working with a range of experienced clinicians and practitioners, if they choose to do so.
“Our staff and community will be engaged throughout the process, as we build even stronger relationships across Bayside Health.”
The change also aligns with the recommendations from the recently released Health Services Plan.
While BCH will disappear, the names of local hospitals and healthcare sites will remain unchanged.
Bass Coast Health and Gippsland Southern Health were originally earmarked to join Latrobe Regional Hospital in a greater Gippsland health authority.
They may have dodged a bullet given an ABC News investigation which this week disclosed a series of preventable deaths and medical traumas at Latrobe, including the death of three babies. Premier Jacinta Allan told the ABC she was waiting on advice to determine whether an independent review of the hospital was warranted.
“Benefits for staff also include greater career development opportunities, like working with a range of experienced clinicians and practitioners, if they choose to do so.
“Our staff and community will be engaged throughout the process, as we build even stronger relationships across Bayside Health.”
The change also aligns with the recommendations from the recently released Health Services Plan.
While BCH will disappear, the names of local hospitals and healthcare sites will remain unchanged.
Bass Coast Health and Gippsland Southern Health were originally earmarked to join Latrobe Regional Hospital in a greater Gippsland health authority.
They may have dodged a bullet given an ABC News investigation which this week disclosed a series of preventable deaths and medical traumas at Latrobe, including the death of three babies. Premier Jacinta Allan told the ABC she was waiting on advice to determine whether an independent review of the hospital was warranted.