A new healthcare network, provisionally named Bayside Health, will form through a voluntary merger of Peninsula Health, Alfred Health, and Kooweerup Regional Health Service. The merger, announced Thursday morning, is set to take effect from 1 January 2026 and will serve more than one million people, including 300,000 residents of the Mornington Peninsula.

The merger is intended to streamline healthcare access and improve patient outcomes across the region. Peninsula Health Chief Executive Helen Cooper said the combined network would allow the three services to offer a full spectrum of care.

“The complementary nature of the three health services means we will be able to provide the full spectrum of care for the 1.1 million people we’ll serve through this network,”

Ms Cooper said.

Transforming Healthcare Access for Thousands

The new network is expected to revolutionise access to specialist services, backed by cutting-edge research and clinical trials. Ms Cooper highlighted the aim of simplifying care pathways and enhancing patient experiences.

“Access to specialist care will become easier and more seamless under Bayside Health,”

She said.

“We will continue to deliver care close to home while creating a more connected healthcare experience.”

New Clinics and Services for the Peninsula

A significant addition to the network will be a new Dermatology clinic at Rosebud Hospital, offering access to specialist skin cancer assessments and care. Improved access to the dialysis service, which is currently at capacity, will also be a priority.

“We will continue to investigate new clinics and services that the new network will enable us to deliver for the community in and around Rosebud,”

Ms Cooper added.

Expanded Opportunities Across the Region

The Bayside Health Service will increase access to a range of services, programs, and clinical trials, regardless of a patient’s geographical location. Alfred Health Chief Executive Adam Horsburgh said the merger is a natural progression of the existing collaborative efforts across the three organisations.

“We already provide services across Victoria, including shared patient pathways with Peninsula Health, for a range of services including surgery, neurology and cardiology,”

Mr Horsburgh said.

“This positive change is a natural progression to better realise the power of partnership. It will build on the strong history of collaboration between our hospitals and will open greater opportunities to develop care.”

A Push for a New Rosebud Hospital

Despite the merger, Peninsula Health’s longstanding push for improved facilities for local residents and visitors on the southern peninsula remains unchanged.

“Peninsula Health and subsequently the new Bayside Health (working title) will continue to advocate for a new Rosebud Hospital to service the growing southern peninsula community,”

Ms Cooper said.

What’s Next for the Region’s Healthcare?

Bayside Health (working title) will span from Melbourne’s south, through Bayside, and down through the Mornington Peninsula to Gippsland. The three boards of the respective organisations approved the merger in early December, believing that together they can deliver better, safer, more accessible, and more connected healthcare for the expanded community.

The merger is also supported by the Minister for Health and the Victorian Government, which released its Health Services Plan earlier this year. Peninsula Health and Kooweerup Regional Health Service will begin working together in the coming months to integrate their services as part of the first stage in the development of Bayside Health, scheduled to begin on 1 January 2026.

Have Your Say on the Future of Healthcare

This merger marks a significant shift for healthcare in the region. What are your thoughts on this bold new direction? Do you believe it will address the community’s needs, or do you have concerns that need to be addressed?

Share your thoughts with us in the comments.

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