00:00A small town with big fears about the future of its hospital.
00:06We have a clear message, you've got to listen to our community.
00:09Hundreds of people gathered in Mansfield in the state's high country today, protesting
00:14against potential health care changes.
00:16I don't think the government really gets it, that the distance plays a big role and you've
00:21got to service the local community and it's a big community.
00:24The Victorian government insists no hospitals will close as it explores changes to the state's
00:29health system, including funding cuts to some regional health services.
00:34It argues some hospitals such as the one in Mansfield are operating under capacity and
00:39could be better used to relieve pressure in other areas.
00:43What I would love to see, and I think all Victorians would love to see, is our hospitals
00:48working better as a system and decisions about people's care being driven by getting that
00:54person as close to home as possible, as soon as possible.
00:58One way that could be achieved is by merging hospital management boards, but that idea
01:02has angered locals.
01:04If our hospital is managed by a group that are two and a half hours away or two hours
01:10away, they won't know what's going on in town, they won't know what we need here.
01:15We think it will result in cost cutting that will ultimately flow through to a loss of
01:22services that are fairly critical to the town.
01:25Hospital mum Emma has worked at Mansfield Hospital for the past decade.
01:29Two days ago she was a patient, giving birth to her son Harry.
01:34I wouldn't have wanted to have him anywhere else.
01:37She says the Mansfield community has always valued having a locally managed hospital.
01:43Especially having kids growing up in the community, it's so important to have care that's local.
01:53The government says no decisions have been made as it continues to consider expert advice.
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