The Keith and District Hospital has officially joined SA Health with a $9.75 million boost from the SA State Government.

After so many decades of uncertainty, it was a moment the Upper SE community had been waiting for.

Sporting a new public healthcare model – the facility will be known as Keith and District Healthcare.

SA Health Minister Chris Picton started his two day visit to the region at Keith, especially to open the now public hospital.

Mr Picton said he was delighted to secure the future of healthcare in Keith, “giving the community certainty going forward with our newest public health service”.

“This has been made possible by this government scrapping the previous government’s plans for a $662 million CBD basketball stadium,” Mr Picton said.

“For decades this community has faced uncertainty and blame-game about its local health services.

“By bringing Keith services into the public health system, we end the threat of closure and can support services across the network of Limestone Coast Services.

“This new model of care will not only better serve the community with expanded services, but will provide new opportunities for future workforce development that will include training and student placements, which we hope will ultimately attract more medical professionals to the region.”

According to the SA Government’s media release, the new model will reduce and prevent the need for inpatient care – by introducing a community paramedic and a nurse practitioner – while retaining and expanding services such as allied health, aged care, National Disability Insurance Scheme services and dedicated telehealth rooms.

“These roles, along with the wider healthcare services, will complement the existing general practitioner role, with the nurse practitioner able to perform physical assessments, order diagnostic tests and prescribe specific medication,” the release says.

“One of the two community paramedics have already commenced their role and are actively servicing the area, supported by a nurse practitioner.

“Existing Hospital Board members will formally transfer to the newly created Keith and District Health Advisory Council to maintain advocacy and continuity for the community.

“The new healthcare model was designed following extensive community consultation and was supported by the residents of Keith and surrounding districts at the Keith and District Hospital AGM last year.

“The transition came about after the Keith and District Hospital Board indicated that the frailties of the governance and service model were unsustainable, as well as funding certainty provided by the Malinauskas Government in its $9.75 million election commitment.

“The board then worked in partnership with the Limestone Coast Local Health Network (LCLHN) to develop an alternative that met the health needs of the community.”

Member for MacKillop Nick McBride said the future of health services and the Keith and District Hospital was a priority since he was elected in 2018.

“I have worked with successive governments, the Keith Hospital Board and the LCLHN to find a health model that is sustainable for the community,” Mr McBride said.

“I am pleased the current government has supported the hospital and the local community to reach an agreement on this model, which I believe will modernise the way health care is delivered in the Keith community.

“I believe the Health Hub Model is recognition of the need for a change to the way health services can be reliably delivered to the community of Keith and (the) surrounding district.”

Regional development minister Clare Scriven said she understood the importance of providing quality healthcare services in regional SA.

“This is especially vital in the Limestone Coast, which is why this new sustainable model of care in Keith is welcome for residents now and into the future.”

LCLHN acting CEO Angela Miller said she was thrilled to see the positive impact the introduction of the healthcare model was having on the community so far.

“This transition for Keith and District Hospital means that so many more in the Upper South East community will have access to an improved model of care well into the future,” she said.

This article appeared in the Naracoorte Community News.