Adelaide Hills: Gumeracha ED to remain shut indefinitely

A Hills emergency department will remain closed indefinitely with the state government ruling out funding a locum despite growing community pressure.

A Hills emergency department will remain closed indefinitely after failing to attract vital funding and government support.

In a statement issued online, Gumeracha District Soldiers Memorial Hospital said its plea for government assistance to attract regional doctors had fallen on deaf ears, leaving it short-staffed and with just one course of action - to close the local ED indefinitely.

“The medical sector in general, and our little medical practice in particular, have been dealing with a number of headwinds in recent years. This has led to the current crisis in our medical workforce,” the statement read.

“We have spent years pleading with the health bureaucracy, at all levels, for assistance but have had no success.

“Both the State and Federal Ministers for Health have heard our case, and have not been moved to help.

“Therefore, it is with great regret, that we must inform the community that for the foreseeable future we do not have enough independent, fully-qualified doctors to staff the (ED) in a safe manner. It will not be able to open until such time as we have more support and doctors available.”

The announcement follows months of lobbying by the Hills community, including Joel Taggart who credits the local ED for saving his daughter Shiloh’s life.

He is also one of over 2500 Hills residents to have signed a petition by Kavel MP Dan Cregan to see the facility reopened.

The closest ED is Modbury Hospital – 27km to the west or Mount Barker, 35km to the south via windy and dangerous roads.

“We’ll continue to fight to have our ED reopened, irrespective of which government comes in after the March election,” Mr Taggart said.

“It’s disappointing that it has come to this and there is definitely a high level of frustration in the community.”

According to a government spokesman, negotiations are underway to reopen the ED before the March 19 election.

However, a reopened ED would unlikely meet community expectations with Minister for Health and Wellbeing Stephen Wade telling The Advertiser he would prefer the engagement of local GPs rather than locums.

He said increased GP support would be facilitated via a landmark $188 million fee-for-service agreement.

His announcement comes as rural hospitals report a locum cost increase of up to 50 per cent with some fill-in doctors now earning up to $3000.

Gumeracha locals are calling on the State Government to reopen the local hospital's ED. Joel Taggart and one year old daughter Shiloh, with upset Gumeracha residents. Picture Dean Martin

“SA Health would much prefer a partnership with local medical practices and that is what we are working towards,” he said.

“Local GPs provide continuity of care and a more reliable service.

“A locum service would cost somewhere in the vicinity of $700,000 and not even cover full day services at the ED.”

Mr Cregan strongly criticised the State Government for suggesting it may open the Gumeracha ED without making any direct financial commitment to the Hospital itself.

“The hard truth is the government enters caretaker mode at midnight tonight but hasn’t taken any concrete step to reopening the ED,” he said.

“I’m calling on the government to commit at least $500,000 annually for a night doctor.

“If I am re-elected I will hold the government to account on this critical issue.

“So far, all we have from the government are a few positive noises about reopening just before an election while local health professionals have been pleading for additional resources for a very long time.”

The hospital is unaware of any plans to reopen the ED before March 19.