SHADOW Health Minister Stephen Wade has called for “cultural change” at Mount Gambier Hospital, which has been plagued with workforce-related issues for many years.
He said the ongoing problems being raised by staff demonstrated the need for the return of regional hospital boards.
“I believe there is definitely need for cultural change in the Mount Gambier Hospital,” Mr Wade said.
The Liberal MP said re-establishing a management board would foster a greater connectivity with the community and give greater capacity to respond to issues and implement change.
“It would be mean the decision makers are closer to where it was happening,” Mr Wade said.
The establishment of a regional health board is one of the Liberal Party’s key regional policy platforms heading into the March state election.
“The Mount Gambier Hospital underwent a major review about 10 years ago and we are now back there again,” Mr Wade said.
He said he was concerned the government’s emergency health measures – being driven by pressure on metropolitan hospitals – were now impacting on country areas.
He said he some Country Fire Service volunteers had raised concerns ambulance crews have been directed not to routinely attend traffic accidents unless there was a medical emergency.
He said this was a concern for CFS members who were often the first responders to accidents in country areas.
The shadow minister said he seeking more information on this issue yesterday.
