Gordon Billows’ widow reacts to Western Hospital closure risk

The wife of a man whose ashes are buried in the grounds at Western Hospital says she would “do anything” to save the financially troubled health precinct.

The widow of the inaugural chairman of the Western Hospital says her husband would be “turning over with upset” at speculation the private facility at Henley Beach was facing closure.

So committed to the hospital was the late Gordon Billows, who died aged 83 seven years ago, his wake was held there and his ashes were buried beneath a tree planted in his honour at the medical centre.

“It is so disappointing because if it is lost to the community, God knows what will happen ... our medical state is shocking as it is,” Colleen Billows, 88, said.

“I would do anything to save the place.”

It was reported late on Monday the healthcare precinct might be forced to close due to its rising debt with details of a $1m loan from the State Government revealed.

Colleen Billows is the widow of the original chairman of the Western Hospital, Gordon Billows. Picture: Brett Hartwig

The hospital officially opened as the Western Community Hospital in 1974 and Mr Billows was chairman of its board for 19 years.

The centre has since expanded to include a range of specialist services including a “state-of-the-art cardio-vascular theatre”, an ICU, gynaecology, oncology, physiotherapy, gastroenterology and surgical surgery such as orthopaedics with 50 to 80 joint replacements each year and patients travelling from across the state and interstate, as well as locally.

On Tuesday hospital CEO Kathy Nagle said it was increasingly hard for the state’s small private hospitals to make ends meet but Western Hospital would find a way.

“The health fund rates provided to small private hospitals are approximately 15 per cent less than the corporate not-for-profit facilities (such as Calvary and Healthscope) … this is significant and we are not in a position to negotiate as a small hospital,” she said.

“We have been working for some time to invite a new investor/operator ... to dilute the current ‘mum and dad’ shareholders and to ensure ongoing capital, equipment and aesthetic improvements (will) be funded well into the future.”

Western Hospital on Cudmore Terrace, Henley Beach. Picture: Brett Hartwig

She said staff and medicos were being kept updated.

Treasurer Stephen Mullighan said a repayment deadline for the April loan, initially set for the end of January, had been extended by several months.

“Both staff and the community should be assured Western Hospital management, the board, the landlord (Australian Unity Healthcare Property Trust) and the Government continue to work towards a solution to keep the doors open,” he said.

The state’s shadow treasurer, and local member, Matt Cowdrey agreed it was critical to pull out all the stops to save the hospital.

“I don’t think the impact of a potential closure could be overstated … this hospital has a significant history in the western suburbs, it is part of the fabric of the western suburbs,” he said.