Keith Hospital wants more money or may close from March 31

Keith and District Hospital is running out of money and may close after March 31, officials say — despite a $400,000 handout in January on top of its annual $1 million from the government.

Keith and District Hospital officials say the private community hospital may close at the end of the month unless it receives an urgent cash injection from the State Government.

This is despite it receiving a $400,000 handout in January on top of the $1 million a year it has received for the past five years.

The hospital has been in turmoil for months, sacking its operator, trying to find GPs and being forced to spend on expensive locums to maintain its 24/7 emergency department.

Officials have taken to social media to air grievances — which the government disputes.

“The Keith Hospital board is calling on the State Government to honour their commitment to provide adequate funding to ensure the continuation of hospital services including the vital 24/7 emergency department past 31 March.,” they state.

“The Keith Hospital has been under increased financial strain since June 2018 when it was compelled to cut ties with Tristar Medical Group. Tristar were contracted to provide 2 GPs 5 days a week plus 24/7 on call availability.

Keith and District Hospital needs a cash injection.

“After failing to provide this service for many months, the hospital ended the contract and since this time has been burdened with the considerable expense of providing locum GPs to meet the needs of our community.

“In light of these financial pressures in September the hospital secured $400,000 in additional funding from the State government. This ensured the continuance of medical services including the 24/7 emergency department until the end of March, now just 10 days away.”

The post asks followers to “like” it and support the campaign for more money.

It also notes that meetings between the board and the State Government were due to commence in June 2018 but none have taken place “and at this time there is no funding for the hospital past 31 March.”

A letter from Health and Wellbeing Minister Stephen Wade to board chairman Richard Vickery confirming the additional $400,000 grant in December bluntly warned it would be the last handout this financial year.

“As we discussed in Mt Gambier, SA Health will not be in a position to provide any additional funding to KDH in 2018-19,” Mr Wade wrote.

“Accordingly I would encourage KDH to adjust the level of services it provides, at least in the short term, it if it not able to fund all the services it currently delivers through to June 30, 2019.”

Opposition health spokesman Chris Picton accused the government of breaking a promise to improve regional health services.

“It is astonishing that the Liberals have failed to even meet with the Hospital Board despite promising to secure vital funding,” he said.

“If this hospital were to close due to lack of funding from the Liberals it would be a massive hit to health services in the region.

“Premier Marshall must explain why the hospital has been ignored and what immediate action his Government will take to ensure patients in the South East are not left in the lurch.”