by Peter Gandolfi
AN upgrade to the emergency department, doubling of mental health beds and two additional drug and alcohol detox beds at the Mount Gambier hospital are part of Labor’s multi-million dollar health policy blitz for the Limestone Coast announced today by State Opposition Leader Peter Malinauskas.
Mr Malinauskas pledged an additional $23.9m for the city’s hospital if Labor is elected at the State election in March.
The pledge includes a mixture of capital and operational funding to be delivered in the first term of a Labor government.
Mr Malinauskas said the emergency department at the Mount Gambier Hospital is under extraordinary strain, and has been for some time, and that he would work closely with the Limestone Coast Local Health Network in determining how $8m in capital for the hospital’s emergency department could be best spent.
Also within the overall package, $11.2m will be spent on doubling the number of mental health beds at the hospital from six to 12.
“We know at the moment there are a lot of people in normal ward beds who are there with mental health related illnesses,” Mr Malinauskas said.
“By doubling the capacity of the mental health unit, we would be giving people a dedicated service around mental health which is important while also freeing up general ward beds for people with other illnesses.”
Under the proposal, once capital improvements for the mental health unit are completed at a cost of $2.19m, $9m would be made available in recurrent operational funding for the unit over four years.
The pledge also includes drug and alcohol detox beds increasing by two with an additional $3m in capital and $1.75m in recurrent funding.
Mr Malinauskas said a Labor Government will also invest $8 million towards a major redevelopment of the Naracoorte Hospital.
Labor said the $8m investment will provide for the first stage of a modernisation redevelopment of the vital facility.
Mr Malinauskas said Labor’s health promises would be funded by cancelling the Liberal Government’s plan to build a new $662m basketball stadium in Adelaide.
“I have committed to scrap the basketball plan and I want to use all of that money and invest it on health,” he said.
“More specifically, $100m of that [$662m] is going to be spent on country health and the Limestone Coast area is a top priority.
“We believe there has been a significant under investment in health and that needs to be addressed and that is particularly true in regional South Australia,” he said.
Independent Member for Mount Gambier Troy Bell welcomed today’s announcement, saying it demonstrated a strong commitment to the region.
“A $24m investment in our hospital redevelopment is a step in the right direction and it’s great to see this commitment to regional healthcare across multiple sectors,” Mr Bell said.
“Since I have become the Member for Mount Gambier, I have been lobbying for improvements to the Limestone Coast health system, which is in dire need of an overhaul.
“This is the first major pillar of my Future Mount Gambier and District plan, which was a result of collaboration with key community leaders.”
Mr Bell said he has been working with advocates such as Substance Misuse Limestone Coast’s Sophie Bourchier and Andy Stott on much needed drug and alcohol services, which are included in Labor’s pledge.
“The plan [Mr Bell’s] is a $100m road map designed to attract investment in key areas to deliver a brighter future for our community, now and into the future,” Mr Bell said.
“We are the State’s second largest city and it’s time for the State Government to realise, and invest in, our potential.
“Now, it’s up to the Liberal Party to match this commitment,” Mr Bell said.
