Update on changes to Horsham linen service
14 February 2025
Grampians Health will change the linen services provided at the Horsham campus following a significant equipment breakdown at the centre last year.
The transition from a full laundering service to a smaller laundry and distribution centre will take effect from May.
The change means theatre laundry products will continue to be processed in Horsham, while bulk laundry will be processed at the Ballarat centre and delivered to the Horsham campus. This model has been successfully in place since the equipment breakdown last year, ensuring a seamless linen service for both the health service and the community.
There are currently no changes to the linen service for local community businesses that use it.
Grampians Health CEO Dale Fraser acknowledged the impact these changes would have on the laundry team, who have maintained an uninterrupted linen service for the Horsham community since the equipment failure.
“As the plant’s aged equipment is beyond repair and the $19 million needed for new equipment has not been secured, Grampians Health had to make the difficult decision to change how we provide laundry services in the Horsham region. We explored every possible option to get the centre fully up and running following years of regular breakdowns, but in the current financial climate, the cost was simply out of reach,” Mr Fraser said.
Mr Fraser said the changes required a small team to operate the changed Horsham service, reinforcing that retention of staff was a priority. While some roles will be affected, all staff will be offered the opportunity for alternative roles and retraining if needed.
“We have been working closely with the Horsham linen team during the past few months, ensuring they have been kept informed, with some Horsham linen team members already moving across to work in our Environmental Services department.
“The linen team at Horsham has been nothing short of outstanding, especially during the past few months when interim arrangements were put in place to ensure the delivery of linen to our Horsham campus. We want our staff to know that we are here for them and that we will provide as much support as possible.”
Mr Fraser said Grampians Health was committed to providing the highest quality care for its community and would continue to prioritise essential healthcare in Horsham including front line services, anesthetics and women’s health.
Since the formation of Grampians Health, there has been a 12 per cent increase in the number of jobs at the Horsham campus, compared to a six per cent increase at other sites.
Grampians Health has further expanded its services to continue to meet community needs, opening a Maternity Outpatients Clinic and launching new services for home-based cancer care, specialist rehabilitation, and respiratory testing.