Charlotte Varcoe
LIMESTONE COAST LOCAL HEALTH NETWORK STATISTICS:
Emergency presentations: 36,880
Babies born: 607
Elective surgeries: 2889
Inpatient hospital stays: 19,049
Same-day discharge: 9964
Local residents: 68,777
Total staff: 1475
Total number of complaints: 342
Most common complaint: Corporate services
Positive feedback comments: 588
Number of suggestions: 63
Per cent complaints resolved within policy timeframes: 87 per cent
Stroke neurologist support for country hospitals: 121 patients accessed and 75 transfers to metropolitan hospitals were made
Chemotherapy and cancer care: An increase of 700 cancer services was delivered
Haematology services: An increase of 139 haematology services was delivered
Country Health Connect care: about 343,810 occasions of service delivered to 9529 individual clients
Outpatient activity: 44,796 outpatient service events
Emergency Department activity: 10 per cent increase in emergency department presentations
Community Mental Health team referrals: 1881
KEY dates for the future of infrastructure at the Mount Gambier and Districts Hospital was announced on Monday night as part of the Limestone Coast Local Health Network (LCLHN) annual public meeting.
According to the LCLHN, work will commence to implement the six extra mental health beds in March next year with completion expected in September 2025.
Construction on the emergency department expansion is also expected to begin in March 2024.
The inpatient drug and alcohol withdrawal unit is expected to be completed in September 2025.
Held at the Riddoch Arts and Culture Centre, the LCLHN chair Grant King welcomed members of the community before speaking about the 2022-2023 financial year.
Mr King spoke alongside panelists Cross Border Commissioner Liz McKinnon, LCLHN interim chief executive Angela Miller and Urgent Care Clinic operator Dr Richard Try.
Mr King discussed topics such as long term infrastructure plans, Naracoorte Hospital’s long term improvement and challenges such as workforce attraction and retention.
Ms Miller also spoke on the night highlighting the future development of the health network sites as well as the maintenance of its strategic plan.
Following presentations, questions from the audience were taken with Wattle Range Mayor Des Noll asking about better communication between LCLHN and health advisory councils, more funding for professional staff to come to the region and whether the health network works alongside the Regional Development Association in the region.
Millicent and Surrounds Health Support Group (MASH) representatives Trevor Sinclair and Ron Wood also commented on the lack of communication between LCLHN and other community health representatives stating members of the advisory boards or MASH were not able to pass on information to the community for lack of knowledge themselves.
Mr King responded to the queries stating there was no question about better communication works between the LCLHN and Health Advisory Council (HAC) boards with the roles being challenging and the LCLHN having a role to engage further in the future.
Richard Harry of the Mount Gambier Prostate Cancer Awareness Group asked about the number of urologists in the Limestone Coast and whether there was scope for a permanent, resident urologist.
Responding to his question was Dr Tim Smart executive director of medical services who said there were regular urologists coming from Adelaide but have come to an agreement there is a need for recruitment of a resident urologist.
He said the difficulty was to source one from Australia with chances of getting one here on site was difficult and they would have to come internationally which provided a number of challenges.
Limestone Coast Radiation Treatment Working Group chairperson Lachlan Haynes asked the panel about the current situation with the radiation treatment facility feasibility study and whether there were initiatives for filling health care worker shortages outside overseas doctors.
Mr King said in response to the questions stating the radiation therapy treatment feasibility study would begin today and was expected to be completed in June 2024.
He said although it was taking longer than expected it was critical for the health network to have the right brief and an understanding of what was needed for the study.
Mr King also noted the health network was adopting the single employment model based on the Riverland model which has 10 medical trainees a year on a five year employment term.
The employees then work alongside medical staff with results showing they then settle down, build homes and become a part of that community.
Grant District Mayor Kylie Boston asked Dr Try about further promotion for the Urgent Care Clinic with Dr Try stating he would love for more promotion and it was on the cards for the future once the clinic had settled more.
