The South East is set for its most ambitious health overhaul in a generation, with the Limestone Coast Local Health Network (LCLHN) endorsing a 10-year, $250 million clinical services plan designed to transform care across the region.

The 65-page Draft Clinical Services Plan 2025 2035 charts a course for hospitals and community health across eight locations—Bordertown, Keith, Kingston, Lucindale, Millicent, Mount Gambier, Naracoorte, and Penola.

Naracoorte Hospital is earmarked in the plan to become a major hub for the Mid and Upper South East, complementing Mount Gambier Hospital, the region’s largest facility.

Under the plan, Naracoorte is selected for increased acute inpatient care, more surgical capacity, and further CT activity.

It will also house a chemotherapy service and three dialysis chairs as well as its current services.

Kingston and Penola hospitals will see sustainable urgent-care services established and running, while nurse-led X-ray services will grow across Bordertown, Keith, and Kingston. A rotational workforce model is also planned to meet rising and seasonal demand at Kingston.

Those who have campaigned for local radiotherapy services will be disappointed.

Despite a petition signed by more than 20,000 people, the consultants—Queensland-based Destravis Group—have not included radiotherapy services anywhere in the South East.

That decision leaves South Australia one of the few states where cancer patients outside the capital must still take time off work, travel long distances, and find accommodation in order to receive radiation treatment.

The plan instead proposes a new cancer-care model for the Mount Gambier Hospital, and up to four chemotherapy chairs in Naracoorte.

The plan incorporates “clear patient pathways for repatriation of care following radiation therapy currently delivered elsewhere”.

The plan suggests engagement with the Limestone Coast Radiation Therapy Working Group to continue, aiming to improve pre- and post-treatment planning as well as the creation of a cancer care centre in Mount Gambier.

The LCLHN serves a population of nearly 69,000, with Mount Gambier home to more than half.

Census projections point to a steep rise in residents over 65 by 2041, creating heavier demand for chronic disease management, cancer services, and inpatient care.

In 2022 23 alone, the network delivered care for 22,300 inpatients, treated more than 36,000 emergency presentations, and managed over 45,000 outpatient appointments.

Most of that activity occurred in Mount Gambier, despite “ample space to deliver more care locally” in surrounding facilities.

Destravis has developed the plan based around seven key goals:

• Maintain existing services
• Guarantee safe, high-quality care
• Ensure sustainability
• Use the entire health network’s capacity
• Improve access through technology
• Keep consumers central
• Promote workforce flexibility for new service models

According to Destravis, a core ambition is to increase self-sufficiency—reducing the travel burden for Limestone Coast residents and allowing them to receive appropriate care closer to home.

The plan includes the need to create many more plans, strategies, masterplans and models.

LCLHN CEO Emma Poland said the plan “aligns with our vision to be a trusted leader and partner in the provision of safe, high-quality, progressive, consumer-directed care and services, and provides a 10-year roadmap for what, where and how hospital and community services will be delivered across the Limestone Coast.”

“The governing board has recently reviewed and endorsed the clinical services plan and we look forward to formally launching it later this year,” Ms Poland said.

“We will also continue to keep the community informed and involved in its implementation as we continue to strengthen the delivery of health services across the Local Health Network.”

She emphasised the importance of public input: more than 800 staff, residents, and key stakeholders participated through consultations, workshops, and surveys.

In state Parliament on September 12, 2023, shadow Health minister Ashton Hurn questioned the rationale behind spending $1 million on a planning study just for one town – Naracoorte.

Mr Picton explained the $1 million announced in the 2023-24 state budget was intended to understand further funding opportunities for the Naracoorte Health Service (NHS).

“This includes the supporting design work for additional staging of capital work priorities, with stage 1 providing $8 million to support initial upgrades at the site,” Mr Picton said.

“The ($1m) funding will be split with $750,000 dedicated specifically for the Naracoorte Health Service (NHS), and the remaining $250,000 to progress a clinical services and infrastructure plan for the entire Limestone Coast region.”

This article appeared in The Naracoorte News, 1 October 2025.