SA Election 2018: Liberal Leader Steven Marshall pledges to reopen surgical theatres at Repat Hospital site

A LIBERAL Government would consider compulsorily acquiring parts of the Repatriation General Hospital site to keep certain medical operations there.

Protestors against the Repatriation General Hospital closure marching from Victoria Square to Parliament House in Adelaide. Picture: Sam Wundke

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PARTS of the Repatriation General Hospital site could be compulsorily acquired to ensure that key medical operations remain there, Opposition Leader Steven Marshall says.

If elected in March, Mr Marshall said his party wanted to reopen closed operating theatres used for colonoscopies and urology and orthopedic procedures, to ease pressure on elective surgery waiting lists.

The last Repat patients and staff moved out in early November, transferring to other health services and hospitals in the southern suburbs.

The State Government has sold the site to the Adelaide-based ACH Group which has put forward a seven-year, $200 million redevelopment plan which it is understood would feature aged care, affordable housing and student accommodation. Final Government sign-off on is still required.

The Opposition has consistently campaigned against the Repat closure, announced as part of Labor’s controversial Transforming Health reforms, and urged the Government to put the sale of the site and any works there on hold until after the March 17 state election.

Vietnam War veteran Bob Walter at the Repatriation Hospital. Picture: Roger Wyman

Mr Marshall has not put a figure on the cost of reopening the theatres, nor any potential compulsory acquisition of land or existing buildings.

He said costs would be covered in part by reallocating existing funding and initiatives yet to be announced.

“Bulldozing first class community health assets when our hospital system cannot cope with the current level of need is a bankrupt health policy,” Mr Marshall said.

“All options are now on the table, including the possibility of compulsorily acquiring key parts of the site if the sale to ACH Group is finalised prior to the March election.

“If the sale is concluded by March 17, our preference is to work with ACH to secure the best use of these facilities.

“If not, compulsory acquisition will be an option that we will have to look at. “I’m putting the ACH Group on notice that the community health facilities on the Repat site will be required by a Marshall Liberal Government.”

Opposition health spokesman Stephen Wade has written to ACH Group advising of the policy.

Mr Marshall said he wanted to reopen operating theatres for colonoscopies and urology and orthopedic procedures to help address growing elective surgery backlogs at hospitals across the state.

The Liberals have already announced a $5 million Bowel Cancer Prevention Initiative to wipe the waiting list for a colonoscopy after a positive blood test within a year.

Labor has said that all services lost at the Repat have been replaced at other sites, including some brand new facilities.