SA revised country health plan has aged care component: comment by 5 Dec

Nearly six months after the State Government released its original, but much criticised, Country Health Care Plan, a redrafted strategy has been released for public consultation.

Murray Bridge doctor and Royal Doctors Association of South Australia vice president, Peter Rischbieth, said it was an improvement on the last.

“It provides a definition of what services should be in smaller hospitals and that’s what you should be asking for in small towns,” he said.

Dr Rischbieth was part of the Government appointed taskforce that helped compile the redrafted strategy, and said it was based largely on public feedback from the last release.

The redrafted strategy promises not to close any country hospitals, and has provided a definition of the kinds of services smaller hospitals would offer.

This includes acute inpatient care such as birthing, post-natal care, overnight surgery, maintenance of chronic conditions and recuperative care such as a post transfer from another larger hospital.

It also includes minor surgery and elective surgery, low risk caesarean sections, aged care, residential aged care, in home domiciliary support, and 24 hour, seven day a week emergency services.

The full strategy is available for download at www.health.sa.gov.au. Community feedback is invited up until 5 December.