The Royal Melbourne Hospital (RMH) has played a central role in a cross-health system partnership that is collaborating to build a more resilient and sustainable health system for Victorians.
The West Metro Health Service Partnership (HSP) brings together some of Victoria’s premier health services and organisations to collaborate on health systems reform. This includes the RMH, the Royal Children’s Hospital, the Royal Women’s Hospital, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Western Health, Werribee Mercy Hospital, and the North Western Melbourne Primary Health Network.
Since its establishment two years ago, the partnership has supported the COVID+ Pathways work for our region, established and grown the Better@Home Program, supported the delivery of the Victorian Government’s Planned Surgery Recovery and Reform program and undertaken a population health project to better understand the health needs of our local community.
Over 280 clinical and operational staff from across the partnership have worked together over the past two years on 13 collaborative projects and through several knowledge sharing forums.
The RMH has been central to that collaboration as the host agency for the HSP, providing significant support and leadership throughout the HSP’s first two years. In addition, the RMH has established a 24/7 hub for adult hospital-in-the-home services for patients from the RMH, Peter Mac and the Women’s.
It has partnered with Western Health to implement Diabetes and Endocrinology Telehealth Rapid Access Clinics at both services, providing rapid access to specialist diabetes and endocrinology, relieving pressure on outpatient services and ensuring patients get more timely care.
Other collaborative work includes improving access to care after-hours for hundreds of aged care residents and implementing Enhanced Recovery After Surgery and prehabilitation pathways. The RMH has also partnered with Werribee Mercy Hospital in the implementation of the HSP’s endoscopy Rapid Access Hub.
Between January and June 2023, the partnership collectively removed 988 patients from waitlists and saved 501 bed days.
WMHSP Executive Director, Suyin Ng, said the results reflected the engagement, commitment and leadership of each of the partnership’s health service members.
“It’s testament to the investment from staff, the quality of our Health Service leadership, the innovative mindset, and the commitment to patients that is evident across all our health services,” Suyin said. “Partnerships are not easy, but they can deliver great outcomes.”
For more on our achievements and collaborative work, download the WMHSP Impact Report 2021-2023 (PDF).
We provide a media service from 6am to 10pm each day. Journalists are welcome to contact our media advisor on-call via the RMH Switchboard on (03) 9342 7000.
During business hours, journalists can email mh-communications@mh.org.au. We do not respond to emails outside business hours.