Primary Health Care Under Pressure: A Case Study of Amalgamation in Victoria

Abstract

Amalgamation of community health centres has become a fairly common response to Victorian government changes in primary health care policy (both Labor and Coalition). This is a study of one such amalgamation and of its effects. The amalgamation brought staff and management many difficulties of adjustment, but it has produced a larger organisation which, while it has some residual problems, appears well fitted to withstand the pressure of today's policy directions and to meet future demands.