Adelaide Hills: Labor pledges 30 new ambos for Mt Barker and Strathalbyn

An additional 30 ambos would be deployed across the Hills region from July as part of a $17m Labor healthcare pledge announced today.

Thirty additional paramedics and ambulance officers would be deployed across the Hills region if Labor wins the state election on March 19.

Opposition leader Peter Malinauskas has pledged $17m towards a new 24/7 emergency ambulance crew and a new 12-hour regional transfer crew in Mt Barker, with the station also to receive a $4.5m facelift.

Additional crews would be deployed from July this year.

Under Labor’s plan, a new 24/7 emergency ambulance crew would also be based in Strathalbyn from 2025.

The announcement comes only a day after the Ambulance Employee Association reported the Ambulance Service had hit OPSTAR Red in the Adelaide Hills, meaning there were no ambulances available for emergencies between the Toll Gate and Murray Bridge.

Mr Malinauskas said Labor planned to scrap the Liberal Government’s $662 million inner-city basketball stadium with funds to be redirected to priority health care needs.

This, he said, included additional ambulance resources in the Adelaide Hills which is expected to reach a population of 100,000 by 2036.

Opposition leader Peter Malinauskas with paramedic Sam Phillips (left) supported by local Mount Barker ambulance officers at Mount Barker Ambulance Station. Picture: Mark Brake

“The people in the Adelaide Hills deserve so much better,” Mr Malinauskas said.

“Investing in an additional 30 paramedics and ambulance officers, including a new 24/7 crew commencing this year, will make a significant difference.”

Shadow Minister for Health and Wellbeing Chris Picton said Hills locals were fed up.

“I have heard horror story after horror story of people left waiting too long for an ambulance in the Hills,” he said.

“Paramedics are sick of it and the people of the Hills are sick of it.

“That’s why boosting paramedics and building a new station in Mt Barker will be one of our first priorities of our ambulance investments.”

Hills paramedic Sam Phillips said the announcement had been a long time coming.

“We not only work in these communities, we live in the community, and we’ve got friends, and family in this community,” he said.

“So you can imagine how emotional it can be at times when we know full well that we’re not getting the resources in that timely fashion to those people most in need.”

Kavel MP Dan Cregan, who has been lobbying for more ambulance crews via a change.org petition, said he welcomed Labor’s commitment.

“(I) call on the government to match it,” he said.

“There has been a single ambulance at Mt Barker station since 1992 (and) there is no question that additional local ambulance resources are desperately needed and more than 4000 people have signed our petition calling on the government to immediately address the issue.”

Mt Barker Mayor Ann Ferguson also welcomed the announcement.

“This is a welcome announcement from the opposition and the sort of commitment

that council and our community have been waiting to hear for the past 12 years,” she said.

“In the next term of government, we urgently need the implementation of an agreed

and funded plan to give the Mt Barker region an ambulance service that can safely

and promptly respond to the health needs of 60,000 people; it is after all an essential

service.”

Priority Care Centre opens in the Hills

South Australia’s first peri-urban Priority Care Centre has opened in Mt Barker in a bid to divert non-critical care from local hospitals.

Located at Summit Health on Wellington Rd, the facility will provide Hills residents with an alternative care pathway for urgent, but not emergency, healthcare needs.

It is anticipated the PCC will see up to 20 patients a day, which is around 30 per cent of patients presenting daily at the Mount Barker District Soldiers’ Memorial Hospital ED.

Common conditions treated will include minor sprains, wounds and cuts, suspected fractures, urinary tract infections and mild upper respiratory infections.

Minister Health and Wellbeing Stephen Wade said the centre aimed to reduce pressure on metropolitan services.

It would also provide care closer to home for Hills residents.

“More than half of the ED presentations at the (Mt Barker) hospital are category 4 (semi-urgent) and category 5 (non-urgent), patients who can safely be seen at the new PCC,” he said.

“We are thrilled that the Hills and Mt Barker community now has an alternative option to presenting at an ED and can be seen by experienced GPs right next door to their closest hospital.”

The Summit Health Centre in Mt Barker. Picture: Facebook

Eligible patients at the Emergency Department will be offered a choice to attend the new PCC, to avoid waiting in an ED and helping free up hospital space and ambulances for those needing a higher level of care.

Patients can be referred to the PCC by the SA Ambulance Service, an ED nurse or doctor, a GP, Healthdirect Australia, or through other virtual urgent care services such as the Women’s and Children’s Health Network Child and Adolescent Virtual Urgent Care Service.

Wellbeing SA Chief Executive, Lyn Dean, said the centre would initially operate for the next six months as part of the SA Health Covid response strategy.

 “Since our first four PCC’s opened in 2019, more than 27,000 people have avoided EDs and received timely access to priority care in the community instead,” she said.

“Patient satisfaction is high, with 92 per cent of patients reporting they would recommend the service to family and friends, and 87 per cent saying they were very satisfied with the service they received.”

The Mount Barker Priority Care Centre will be open Monday to Friday from 10am to 6pm