NEWLY endorsed Liberal candidate Craig Marsh yesterday pushed the Mount Gambier Hospital’s sub-standard renal unit to the forefront during talks with the party executive.
The Mount Gambier electorate candidate yesterday met with State Liberal leader Steven Marshall in Adelaide to lobby for an election commitment from his colleagues on the issue.
This follows the cramped renal unit being described as the worst in the state by renal specialists and being left in limbo by the State Government.
Despite funding multi-million-dollar renal upgrades at hospitals closer to Adelaide, the government is yet to announce funding.
“The renal dialysis unit at the hospital is the only service for the South East and the only one beyond Murray Bridge,” Mr Marsh told The Border Watch.
He said this unit was vital for patients in the South East who would typically need to dialyse for 12 hours over three sessions each week.
“It is completely unacceptable that patients must receive treatment in cramped and cold conditions, without privacy or even for room for somebody to sit with them,” Mr Marsh said.
“The hard-working doctors, nurses and other staff at Mount Gambier Hospital deserve better facilities so they can provide the best possible care for our local community and residents.”
Mr Marshall said he had a productive meeting with Mr Marsh discussing issues in Mount Gambier and was pleased his new candidate had “hit the ground running”.
“The condition of the renal unit at the Mount Gambier Hospital has been an issue that the state Liberals have been concerned about for some time,” the party leader said.
Shadow Health Minister Stephen Wade – who attended last weekend’s Bollywood Ball fundraiser – said he was briefed about the unit during his visit.
“The capital works backlog in regional areas is reported to be more than $150m,” he said.
“In the last state budget the Labor Government found $900m for metropolitan hospitals, but disgracefully not one dollar went to a country hospital.”
