Gawler Hospital will receive a big boost to its emergency department, bringing in more jobs
A $15 million revamp is set to quadruple the capacity of the Gawler Hospital emergency department – and there’s a key reason behind the cash injection.
Barossa, Clare & Gawler
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Population growth is behind a $15 million cash injection to expand the Gawler Hospital emergency department capacity by four times its current size.
The funding was announced Monday as part of the State Government’s $42.8 million health infrastructure stimulus package.
The department’s capacity will increase fourfold, from four treatment spaces to 16, and create over 60 jobs during the life of the project.
The new department will work alongside the hospital’s recently completed Short Stay Unit.
Health Minister Stephen Wade said the Gawler area had experienced significant growth and the department expansion needed to grow alongside it.
“The Marshall Liberal Government has a steely resolve to provide better healthcare, closer to home, and this extensive new project will help us deliver on that commitment for the people of Gawler and surrounding regions,” he said.
“We are determined to address the neglect inflicted on health services in the area by the previous Labor Government’s disastrous Transforming Health experiment.
“The Gawler Health Service catchment area is expected to grow by 40 per cent during the next 16 years and it is crucial we plan ahead to ensure the community has first-class healthcare and facilities.”
Schubert MP Stephan Knoll said the new emergency department was a further boost to healthcare for his community, especially the southern Barossa.
“It is no surprise more and more people are deciding Gawler and its surrounding regions are the best place to live in Australia,” Mr Knoll said.
“We know that as the population grows, so does the demand for emergency services and this significant expansion is essential to be able to respond to that demand and ensure patients can receive the care they need closer to home.
“After years of neglect under the previous Labor Government it is heartening for our local community to now have a Government that is committed to delivering world-class healthcare for the regions.”
Meanwhile, Labor Light MP Tony Piccolo welcomed the news, but remained sceptical on the timing or specific nature of the works.
“In the absence of specific details it is hard to make any further comment except to say that an upgrade of the ED was on Labor’s agenda,” he said.
“While having a better ED is important if more ambulances aren’t available to transport people there, we really haven’t solved the whole problem.
“Local paramedics have warned of the risk to people’s health because of the lack of proper resourcing for the local ambulance service.
“Labor has demonstrated its commitment to improving the wellbeing of local residents by brining a number of services to Gawler to reduce the burden on people who are already ill and their families.
“We now have dialysis and chemo therapy services available in Gawler which has made it a little easier for local people.
“I regularly talk to local doctors and medical professionals, but it is not clear how and if they have been consulted by the government on this surprise upgrade to ensure it is the best way to improve the hospital.”
