Independent MP Frances Bedford, Nick Xenophon in joint pledge for Modbury Hospital high-dependency unit

INDEPENDENT MP Frances Bedford has sided with SA Best leader Nick Xenophon in a joint pledge to reinstate a high dependency unit at Modbury Hospital, if elected in March.

• 46 doctors reject new high-dependency unit for Modbury
• ... but Libs vow $110m for hospital, $20 million to reinstate the unit
• ... and Labor pledges $90m for Modbury Hospital upgrade

INDEPENDENT MP Frances Bedford has sided with SA Best leader Nick Xenophon in a joint pledge to reinstate a high-dependency unit at Modbury Hospital, if elected in March.

Ms Bedford, current member for Florey and former Labor MP, has long fought for the hospital’s HDU to be returned — a stance that is against the Labor Party and also advice from the Australian Medical Association, who say the plan would be “unsafe and difficult to staff”.

Modbury’s HDU was removed by the State Government as part of its controversial Transforming Health reforms.

“It’s about getting the best deal for people in South Australia, particularly for the residents of the northeast,” she said.

Modbury Hospital in the state’s northeastern suburbs. Picture: Tricia Watkinson.

When asked whether she would support Labor on other policies, Ms Bedford replied: “Labor can’t rely on me to support them with anything that is stupid”.

HDUs are for patients who generally need high-level monitoring and management of their condition, including for single-organ failure.

The Opposition has also pledged to reinstate the unit if elected.

Mr Xenophon said he would work with Ms Bedford.

“We have a common interest ... we will work together, I want Frances to be re-elected for the member for Florey,” he said.

“The issue is Modbury Hospital had a very successful HDU here for decades but the fact is it’s been gutted by Transforming Health.”

Former AMA president Dr Peter Ford, a GP, said he also supported SA Best’s plans at a press conference on Wednesday morning.

Independent MP Frances Bedford protesting with the Modbury Hospital Local Action Group outside the hospital. Picture: Tom Huntley.

“We’re told (by the State Government the HDU) that it’s dangerous ... well, Burnside War Memorial Community Hospital has an HDU that stands alone,” he said.

“Fremantle Hospital has no emergency department but it has an HDU (and) the community here feels that Modbury Hospital requires such a service.”

Dr Ford said he wasn’t aware of the AMA’s stance such a unit would be unsafe.

This morning, Health Minister Peter Malinauskas criticised Dr Ford’s opinion on the issue because he was a “GP ... not an intensive care doctor”.

He maintained the government had received “overwhelming advice” that an HDU at Modbury could “put patient’s lives at risk”.

Mr Malinauskas said both Xenophon — and the Liberals — were “playing the populist card” and “ignoring advice” from senior clinicians.

“(They have) told us loud and clear that an HDU is not safe and shouldn't be introduced,” he said.

In reply, Dr Ford said he believed he was better qualified to speak on the topic than Mr Malinauskas.

“I think a GP has a pretty broad knowledge of how the community is travelling, the density of their patients and the outcome of their patients — I think we’re pretty well informed,” he said.

The Opposition has previously pledged it will inject $110 million into the Modbury Hospital — including reinstating the high-dependency unit — if elected in March 2018.

The election promise to spend a total of $20 million on reinstating the HDU is the exact opposite to plans announced by the State Government in December, which saw Modbury’s high-dependency unit removed.

Both the Opposition’s — and SA Best’s pledge — to reinstate the HDU goes against advice from 46 senior northern Adelaide doctors who say establishing a high-dependency unit at Modbury is “unsafe and not clinically viable”.

The State Government has committed $90 million to the hospital, primarily to boost treatment of more complex emergency cases and elective surgery patients at Modbury.