THE state government has left the door open for position amalgamations at health facilities in St Marys and St Helens.
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Rumours have been running rampant on social media in recent weeks, following the release of a Health and Community Services Union petition earlier this month.
The petition, which was authorised by HACSU secretary Tim Jacobson, claimed cuts to frontline health were imminent at the St Marys Community Health Service and St Helens Hospital.
The petition also said services were expected to be cut in other parts of the state.
"HACSU has visited Campbell Town Health and Community Services, St Marys Community Health Service, St Helens Hospital, Deloraine Hospital and Westbury and members have expressed concerns about the loss of a full-time director of nursing in their facility," the petition read.
"Members are strongly encouraged to gather as many signatures as possible so we can send a message to government that rural and regional communities will not simply stand by and let their frontline health services be cut."
Health Minister Michael Ferguson said there would be no cuts to frontline services at the East Coast facilities, but the government had discussed amalgamations.
"A trial of a single director of nursing position at George Town and Beaconsfield commenced in October 2014. There is also potential to join together management positions in St Marys and St Helens, and Campbell Town and the Midlands Multi-Purpose Health Centre at Oatlands," he said.
"No regional hospitals will close under a Liberal government. Any talk by HACSU of regional hospitals being closed is simply scaremongering by HACSU. The government made clear that every effort is made to avoid frontline impacts from required savings in health and the fact that there are 35 more nurses employed than there were in June 2014 proves that we have done exactly that."