SLASHING doctor call out times at the Millicent and District Hospital has been listed as a highlight by the Millicent and Surrounds Health Support Group at its recent annual general meeting.
Group chairperson John Andre said a new contract required on-call doctors to either be at the hospital or report to the hospital within 20 minutes of a call.
“This is an excellent outcome for Millicent and on behalf of our community we thank Country Health SA for halving the call-out time,” he said.
Country Health’s standard requirement for a doctor on duty to report to the hospital within 40 minutes came under fire last year when it was revealed the on-call doctor for the Millicent Hospital was based in Penola.
Around 30 people attended the community-led group’s meeting, including South East Local Health Network chair Grant King and Millicent Hospital executive officer and director of nursing Michelle de Wit.
Mr Andre highlighted the group’s two successful round table meetings with health services providers and other stakeholders.
“This has brought together the then-acting South East regional director Ngaire Buchanan, Paul Bullen and executives from Millicent Hospital, Medical Clinic Millicent, Sheoak Lodge and the Millicent and Surrounds Health Support Group,” he said.
“Attendees have valued the opportunity to be updated on recent changes and future plans.
“The aim will work together openly and with positive ideas on developing relationships between local health services to deliver the best possible health care to our community.”
He also welcomed the awaited ministerial response to the parliamentary inquiry into regional health services, but stressed the group was determined to prevent the report “being forgotten like previous reports into SA Health have been”.
Mr Andre praised recently appointed South East Local Health Network chief executive officer Ngaire Buchanan, saying the group was “impressed by her professional approach”.
He said country health in the region had benefited from her impact on management systems and long-term and objective planning.
Mr Andre commended a number of new initiatives at the hospital, including patient monitoring upgrades, improvements to the after hours call system and the new consultant gynaecologist.
However, Mr Andre expressed disappointment local doctors were still not involved in servicing the Millicent Hospital.
