The Master Plan to reactivate the beloved Repat is being finalised
THE Master Plan to reactive the Repat is being finalised and is due by the end of the year with plans for elective surgery, dementia care and spine and brain injury rehabilitation.
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THE master plan to reopen the Repatriation General Hospital by the end of the year is expected to lead to elective surgery, dementia care and brain and spinal injury rehabilitation services.
It will also see some work farmed out to private operators.
Consultations closed on September 16 with 84 submissions now being considered.
There were more than 30 expressions of interest from private operators and non-government organisations on how they could partner with SA Health to maximise health care opportunities at the site.
SA Health will now shortlist potential partners and begin talks.
The Advertiser understands the submission by the Paraplegic and Quadriplegic Association of SA – calling for The Repat to house statewide spinal, brain and community rehabilitation services – will get the go-ahead, providing access for physical, psychosocial and recreational needs including a new gym as well as the existing hydrotherapy pool.
It will also house an older persons’ mental health facility providing accommodation for people with symptoms of dementia.
In the lead-up to the state election, Liberal leader Stephen Marshall pledged The Repat’s operating theatres would be reopened for colonoscopies, urology and orthopaedic elective procedures.
Prior to its closure, The Repat dealt with a significant portion of the state’s public elective urology and orthopaedic work.
In 2013-14, there were 1341 orthopaedic and 1353 urological procedures performed.
Health Minister Stephen Wade said the Government’s aim was a transparent process to provide the community and stakeholders with an opportunity to participate in the process of refining a master plan.
“The public response to the consultation process has been overwhelming and confirms how much the community values The Repat site,” he said.
“There is considerable passion in the community for The Repat, some of which stems from its history as a place for veterans and the role it has played in helping so many families through difficult times.
“The Repat site needs to be reactivated as a health precinct to take pressure off the health system, which is clearly struggling. Our state’s health services cannot afford to lose this valuable health asset.
“Yet, that’s exactly what happened under the Labor Government, which ignored the community’s demand that a genuine health precinct be retained on the site.”