MEMBER for Mount Gambier Troy Bell has labelled the recently released state parliamentary inquiry report into regional health services nothing more than “political point scoring”.
Mr Bell said the report – which recommends the reinstatement of federal funding for 10 community mental health respite beds at Mount Gambier Hospital – is indicative of the State Government shifting blame for its poor performance to other government levels.
“The reality is there is more federal money going into health services than ever before in our history,” Mr Bell told The Border Watch.
“The State Government withdrew money for mental health rehabilitation beds in Mount Gambier and Whyalla last year, but then found enough money in their budget to reinstate the 10 beds in Whyalla.
“It will surprise no one that Whyalla is the only country seat the Labor Party holds.”
Mr Bell’s reaction comes after the SA Parliament’s Social Development Committee concluded its inquiry into regional health services and tabled its findings last week.
It made 49 recommendations “to promote continuing improvements and greater accountability in the regional and rural health system”.
Recommendation 44 suggests the State Government should lobby the Federal Government to reinstate federal funding for the provision of the 10 sub-acute beds withdrawn from the Mount Gambier Hospital.
The beds were closed on June 30 last year following the axing of $2m in federal funding.
It sparked a major community and political backlash and saw the loss of 15 staff at four leased residential properties in Mount Gambier.
At the time Mental Health and Substance Abuse Minister Leesa Vlahos and Health Minister Jack Snelling strongly urged Federal Health Minister Sussan Ley to rethink her decision to slash millions from South Australia’s mental health system.
But Mr Bell said the parliamentary committee’s findings were nothing but political point scoring.
“All we really need is to be treated fairly, but instead we have a government that just looks after marginal seats,” he said.
“The way country South Australians are treated by the State Government is nothing short of a disgrace.”
Meanwhile, Country Health SA chief executive officer Maree Geraghty said they are implementing or had already implemented “the majority of the recommendations”.
“Many of the recommendations are being addressed through our new partnership framework to achieve more effective engagement between Country Health SA and health advisory councils and between HACs and their respective communities,” she said.
A total of 36 of the 49 recommendations are addressed to Country Health SA.
Of those, 23 are either already implemented or under way, and three are partially implemented.
The remaining 10 require further consideration.
Ms Geraghty said Country Health SA welcomed the report and the feedback it contains.
“HACs play an important role in providing advice to Country Health SA about local needs, priorities and issues and engaging with and advocating on behalf of regional consumers,” she said.
“We note that there was significant positive feedback during the inquiry about the work of Country Health
SA and many examples of great outcomes achieved for regional communities.”
