%0 Journal Article
%T The creation of Grampians Health - a case study focusing on lessons learned from a health service merger.
%A Duckett S
%A Grenfell R
%A Sykes S
%J Aust Health Rev
%V 48
%N 3
%D 2024 Jun 19
%M 38637961
%F 1.837
%R 10.1071/AH24059
%X This case study of the merger of four hospitals in western Victoria reports on the views of participants affected by the merger - as staff or from the communities - about 2 years after the merger. Respondents reported that many of the sought-after benefits of the merger were being delivered. However, the merger process itself attracted criticism, and it is here that this merger can provide lessons for others. Although there was a long lead time of consultation prior to the formal decision to merge, there was very little time to plan the next steps of implementation - there were only days between the decision and the merger taking effect. Future mergers should manage that differently. There is also a lot of literature on mergers which might provide a check list to enhance the likelihood of success in future mergers.