Improving local health services

Why this is important

All Victorians use health care. But accessing health care can be challenging for some people because doctors, specialists, hospitals and other health services are not fully coordinated and integrated in many areas of Victoria. This means that Victorians do not always receive the care they need, when or where they need it. 

Local Health Service Networks have been in place since 1 July 2025. They bring together local health services, tertiary hospitals, women’s hospitals and children’s hospitals through formal partnership arrangements. Networks are responsible for planning and managing care across a region. The networks are intended to:

• increase collaboration between independent health services to make care more equitable and consistent for patients
• foster a consistent and coordinated approach to optimising workforce planning and management 
• better use health resources to deliver value for Victorians.

Networks are a key part of the government's plan to improve health services in Victoria to better equip them to meet growing demand and provide safe and accessible health care to all Victorians where they live. 

What we plan to examine

We plan to examine if networks are meeting the health care needs of Victorians as close to home as possible.

Who we plan to examine

Department of Health

A selection of local health services networks