Supporters of Keith Hospital are crowd funding to keep it open

Supporters of Keith Hospital have launched a crowd-funding campaign to keep the 24/7 ED open as the impasse with the state government over extra cash continues.

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Supporters of Keith and District Hospital have resorted to crowd funding as the standoff with the State Government over cash continues.

The board of the private, not-for-profit community hospital has threatened to shut services from Sunday if it does not get a funding injection, however Health and Wellbeing Minister Stephen Wade has baulked at more cash following a one-off $400,000 grant on top of $1 million annual funding from the government.

Mr Wade has made it clear the $400,000 was to get the hospital to the end of the financial year and says any more would not be fair to other country hospitals trying to operate within their budgets.

A screenshot of the Keith Hospital GoFundMe appeal taken at about 1.30pm, March 27.

With time running out a gofundme site has been set up aiming to raise $280,000 — it raised more than $1000 within hours of going live.

Organisers note that lives are at risk if the 24/7 emergency department closes.

“Keith is situated on the highway between Adelaide and Melbourne with 5500 vehicles passing by every day,” the site states.

“The emergency department assists more than 500 patients every year. Several of these patients would simply not be alive if it were not for Keith Hospital’s emergency department.

“The Keith Hospital is a community run not-for-profit private hospital providing a public 24/7 emergency department.

4Health Minister Stephen Wade. Picture: Tait Schmaal

“The hospital has been under huge financial pressure since June 2018 when it became necessary to pay for locum GPs to maintain existing services. With locums commonly costing $2000 per day, the hospital is now at risk of closing its emergency department if it does not receive funding urgently.”

The hospital has been under increased financial strain since last June when it cut ties with Tristar Medical Group which was contracted to provide two GPs for five days a week plus 24/7 on call availability but was unable to do so.

It is paying locums but expects to have a permanent doctor starting in June and is undergoing a $3.6 million expansion and redevelopment of its aged care facility.