Minister tours upgraded facilities

SOUTH Australian Health Minister Chris Picton enjoyed a front row seat to the most significant upgrade to the Mount Gambier and Districts Health Service since 2018, when he toured the $24million dollar project last week.

Complete with expanded mental health and cancer services, and the state’s first-ever regional drug and alcohol withdrawal inpatient beds, the major works were a Labor election commitment.

The now completed upgrades have seen the construction of a new six-bed Mental Health Service, which doubles the hospital’s previous number of mental health beds to 12, two new Drug and Alcohol withdrawal inpatient beds for people requiring 24/7, medically managed drug and alcohol withdrawal – the first-ever publicly funded drug and alcohol withdrawal inpatient beds in regional South Australia and a six-bed Emergency Department (ED) Short Stay Unit, which was delivered in September, for patients who are clinically stable and expected to be safely discharged within 24 hours.

Minister Picton said the recently completed works were the first significant upgrade for this facility in over seven years.

“This upgrade will ensure communities on the Limestone Coast have access to quality healthcare, including much-needed mental health and drug and alcohol withdrawal services,” he said.

South Australian Regional development Minister Clare Scriven said the Government was making significant investments into health services across the Limestone Coast and regional South Australia more broadly, as they continue to work towards building a bigger health system for all South Australians.

“The $24 million upgrade to the Mount Gambier and Districts Health Service will make a significant difference to the Limestone Coast community,” Minister Scriven said. “As a local resident myself, I know how important these improvements are for our community.”

On top of these new services, the Federal Government has invested $4.3 million into a new dedicated Cancer Care Centre, featuring five consulting rooms, a group therapy space and amenities to enable patients to access cancer treatment consultations closer to home.

Federal Health Minister Mark Butler said by expanding cancer services, they’re building a stronger health system for all Australians.

“Health care should never be a postcode lottery,” Minister Butler said. “That’s why the Albanese Government is investing in projects like this, to make sure families in the Limestone Coast have access to the care they need, when they need it.”

Limestone Coast Local Health Network chief executive officer Emma Poland said the completed works marked an exciting moment for our staff and Limestone Coast community.

“The Cancer Care Centre, ‘Wari-ngu’ Mental Health Service, and the Drug and Alcohol Withdrawal Inpatient Beds are long-awaited upgrades,” Ms Poland said. “In conjunction with the Emergency Department Short Stay Unit that was opened in September, the new facilities will deliver better patient experiences for our consumers by reducing wait times and allowing people to access medical treatment closer to home.

“I look forward to our community being able to use these services in the new year and thank everyone who contributed to bringing these projects to fruition.”

The new drug and alcohol beds are due to open for patients from next month, while the new mental health beds and Cancer Care Centre will open to patients from early next year.

The Mental Health Service ‘Wari-ngu’ doubles the number of mental health beds previously available at the hospital and includes a lounge room, open-plan kitchen and dining area, dedicated activity area to support patient recovery, and an outdoor area with a yarning space to provide a culturally safe area for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

This dedicated mental health recovery centre has been designed to provide recovery-focused education and help build patients’ skills to support them in their journey to recovery.

The name ‘Wari-ngu’ means ‘Good Path’, and was chosen for Mount Gambier’s new Mental Health Service in consultation with the Bunganditj Language Revival Committee.

The new Drug and Alcohol withdrawal inpatient beds are safe and quiet spaces for patients requiring medically managed drug and alcohol withdrawal, featuring two inpatient beds, a shared living space, courtyard, kitchenette, and 24/7 nursing and medical team to aid them on their road to recovery.

Developed in consultation with the Drug and Alcohol Service of South Australia, Uniting Communities, and Substance Misuse Limestone Coast, as well as people with lived experience of substance dependence, the Unit will ensure Limestone Coast residents seeking support for alcohol and other drug withdrawal can access safe, medically supervised care closer to home.

The establishment of this service at Mount Gambier Hospital follows the State Government’s previous investment to double residential rehabilitation beds in Mount Gambier from six to 12 beds.

This will enable Limestone Coast residents to access alcohol and drug rehabilitation services from withdrawal through to residential rehabilitation locally.

Cancer care services will also be improved on the Limestone Coast, thanks to the new Cancer Care Centre, which includes five consulting rooms for visiting specialists to provide in-person and telehealth consultations, a group therapy space, multi-disciplinary workroom for up to eight clinical staff at any one time, lobby and waiting room, new reception, staff area, quiet room and other amenities to aid patients with their cancer treatment.

Project works were managed by Mossop Construction + Interiors, which began construction last year.

In another boost for health services on the Limestone Coast, the Mount Gambier Ambulance Station is being upgraded, with works on track to be completed next month.

As part of this upgrade, the station’s garage is being extended to house and service additional ambulances, while improvements are being delivered to its locker, storage and car parking areas.

It follows last year’s delivery of a 2022 election commitment to recruit 12 new career paramedics and six new Regional Medical Transfer Service staff, as part of the State Government’s promise to recruit 350 new ambos before the next election – which remains on track to be achieved by the end of the year.