TWO Castlemaine organisations are working together to develop a plan to integrate their services.
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CHIRP Community Health and Castlemaine Health have been working side-by-side as they consider ways to strengthen community health services in the Mount Alexander area.
Boards for the two organisations will undertake staff and community consultations as they develop the plan to combine services.
The community health services' integration plan will aim to ensure future sustainability of the two organisations, boost access to and strengthen community health services to meet the evolving needs of the Mount Alexander Shire community.
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The plan will see the two organisations share the burden of compliance and ensure that funding can be directed to services as much as possible while providing opportunities for staff development.
CHIRP Community Health chair Lexi Randall-L'Estrange said each organisation believes the integration to be a feasible option for the future.
"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," she said.
"A detailed plan for integration is being developed. It will consider the governance, financial, service, human resource and legal impacts of integration.
Castlemaine Health chair Peggy Ronnau said both organisations have a long and proud history of working together.
"By combining our unique strengths, we will further enhance community health services for the communities across Mount Alexander Shire," she said.
"Staff and community consultation are important parts of the process and will inform the development of a comprehensive plan."
The future of CHIRP was unclear at the start of the year when an number of community health programs such as diabetes education and outreach, housing services, physiotherapy and drug and alcohol rehabilitation counselling had days cut.
A group of about 70 people formed Friends of CHIRP to fight for more funding for the community health provider.
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Castlemaine Health's maternity services temporarily closed earlier this year while they underwent a review of its its policies, procedures and processes.
The independent review containing recommendations to ensure the return of services was accepted by the board of management.
Ms Randall-L'Estrange said it working closer together was a good step forward for CHIRP and Castlemaine Health.
"Working together to provide integrated community health services in the Mount Alexander Shire is a positive step forward for both organisations," she said.
"This positions us well to ensure inclusive and accessible services are available to our community both now and into the future."
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Ms Ronnau said the potential of each of the health services will be enhanced by the plan.
"It is important to note that all health service staff are valued and community health services will be enhanced," she said.
"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."