Board 'confident' in running of hospital

"I believe it's a model for the state." - Kyneton Hospital board president, Graham Jasper

Angela Crawford

Despite growing community concern about the breakdown of the after-hours urgent care clinic and general service provision at Kyneton Hospital, board president, Graham Jasper, said he is confident the health service is being run "exceptionally well".

Mr Jasper said community members have expectations beyond what the hospital is funded to deliver.

"They don't understand. I believe it's run exceptionally well, it gets recognised all the time, but not in the local paper," Mr Jasper said.

"I believe it's a model for the state."

Board member since 1996 and former board president, Noel Harvey, agrees.

"Management runs the hospital consistent with the directions from the board, which are consistent with government policy," he said.

"I understand there's some people who don't necessarily like that direction."

In response to the Guardian's questions in relation to additional strain being placed on the ambulance service as a result of a lack of after-hours emergency care available at Kyneton, Mr Harvey pointed out that Victoria's whole health system is under strain.

"Kyneton is not immune from that," he said. 

"The hospital has increasing pressure from its community ... we actually did have a balanced budget last year, and we had planned on a balanced budget this year, but the argy-bargy between the state and federal government (in relation to the federal government's withdrawal of funding to the state) is having an impact on all health services, and we are no exception to that ... and we are going to have to make some reductions in our spending to comply."

Mr Harvey said the board takes full responsibility for the running of the hospital.

"In reality, criticism of management is actually criticism of the board, because management is implementing decisions of the board," he said.

Mr Jasper said board members have no reason to speak to staff members beneath the executive about any managerial issues they may have. He did, however, invite hospital staff members or members of the community with any concerns relating to the hospital to contact him directly.

"If they have concerns about the operation or processes at the hospital, I'm more than happy to discuss these with them personally, they can ring me on my home telephone number, 5422 2555," he said.

"I can't deal with these things if nobody talks about them. Those people can just as easily resolve this issue by coming and talking to me themselves. I don't like fighting these battles through the paper."

Nominations for appointments to the Board of Kyneton Hospital close today for four part-time vacancies - two of which are possible reappointments.

Mr Jasper explained that board members nominate a selection panel from within the board, which then makes recommendations to the full board, and those are forwarded to the Minister for Health.

"They are ministerial appointments, once they leave our hands we have no (further) input," he said.