Taxpayers to pick up hefty Keith Hospital emergency department tab under new demand

Taxpayers would pay five times more per patient presenting to Keith Hospital’s emergency department compared with the state average under a demand put to the State Government.

The Keith Hospital standoff continues.

• Keith Hospital wants more money or may close
• Keith Hospital: Stephen Wade won’t bend over cash request
• Keith District Hospital launches GoFundMe campaign

Taxpayers would pay around $3000 per patient presenting to Keith Hospital’s emergency department compared to the state average of $526 under a demand put to the State Government.

The private, not-for-profit hospital’s board has threatened to shut services from Monday if the government does not give emergency funding on top of the $400,000 injection it gave earlier this year on top of $1 million annual funding.

A public meeting will be held on the issue on Monday in Keith as residents have resorted to crowd funding to keep the ED open, noting it is costing $2000 a day for GP locums.

Health and Wellbeing Minister Stephen Wade has refused to give more money saying he had made it clear the extra money was supposed to last until the end of the financial year and granting any more would not be fair to other country hospitals.

Tatiara Council Mayor Graham Excell has written to Mr Wade asking the government to increase annual funding by 50 per cent to $1.5 million plus provide an immediate one-off boost of $240,000.

Mr Wade has responded by writing to hospital board chairman Richard Vickery saying based on the more than 450 ED presentations last financial year it would mean taxpayers paying around $3000 per ED presentation compared to the state average of $526.

“I think it is noteworthy there is no public hospital in the state that is asking for a 50 per cent increase in its funding base from the taxpayers of this state,” the letter states.

“The Keith and District Hospital is not a public hospital, it is not run by the state government. The board is responsible for its financial management.

“We have provided funding over and above what had been expected for a non-public hospital and we must ensure the responsible use of taxpayers’ funds.”

The letter stresses the government is keen to strengthen country hospital services including private community hospitals and has provided funding to Ardrossan and McLaren Vale community hospitals as well as Keith.

Mr Wade has asked the chair of the new Local Health Network Board, Grant King, to work with the Keith Hospital board to develop a sustainable medium to long term plan for the hospital.

Hospital supporters say lives are at risk if the 24/7 ED closes — Keith is on the highway between Adelaide and Melbourne with around 5500 vehicles passing by each day, and they say the nearest EDs are 30 minutes to the east, 70 minutes to the south, 75 minutes to the west and 90 minutes to the north.

The hospital has struggled for months to find GPs and has been paying locums but has a permanent doctor starting in June.