Bayside merger and Local Health Service Networks – what you need to know

Last updated 29 August 2025.

Health services welcome Health Minister’s formal approval of Bayside Health voluntary merger

We welcome the Victorian Minister for Health’s formal approval of the proposed voluntary merger to create Bayside Health — a unified health service that will bring Alfred Health, Bass Coast Health, Gippsland Southern Health Service, Kooweerup Regional Health Service and Peninsula Health together.  

This milestone marks an important step forward in our shared commitment to improving health outcomes for the 1.2 million people across our communities. 

With the Minister’s approval of the voluntary merger, recruitment for the incoming board has also commenced. This board will then appoint Bayside Health’s first Chief Executive.

When Bayside Health officially begins on 1 January 2026, it will serve a broad region spanning Melbourne’s southern suburbs and the Bayside area, through the Mornington Peninsula, and extending to Kooweerup, Phillip Island, Bass Coast and Gippsland.

Our five existing health services are already collaborating to better connect care, enhance patient experience, and identify opportunities to deliver more services closer to home.

Importantly, all staff from each health service will transition to Bayside Health on 1 January 2026. Our hospitals and healthcare sites will continue to operate under their existing names, with the same staff delivering the same trusted care for their communities. 

We are building a stronger, more connected health system together.

Alfred Health | Bass Coast Health| Gippsland Southern Health Service | Kooweerup Regional Health Service | Peninsula Health 

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Victoria’s Local Health Service Networks began on 1 July

Local Health Service Networks (LHSN) commenced operation from 1 July 2025. This is part of the government’s Health Service reform plan that will see the creation of 12 new local health service networks.

Bass Coast Health is part of the Bayside Local Health Service Network, which will link the five health services that will become part of Bayside Health, along with Calvary Health Care Bethlehem. 

This is separate to our merged health service which will start operation from 1 January 2026. You can read more about the Local Health Service Networks on the health department’s website.

In the media:

basscoasthealth.org.au/news/bass-coast-health-and-gippsland-southern-health-service-join-merger