$1 million Yorketown Hospital upgrade to commence

A million-dollar construction boost will soon begin providing South Australian jobs and better patient services for tens of thousands of Yorke Peninsula residents. 

Minister for Health and Wellbeing Stephen Wade said construction on a new decontamination unit and procedure room at Yorketown Hospital is part of the Marshall Liberal Government’s $140 million Regional Asset Sustainment Program. 

“We know that for too long, regional South Australians have been neglected when it comes to accessing health care closer to home,” Minister Wade said. 

“We recognise the importance of boosting regional health services throughout South Australia, and these upgrades will ensure Yorketown Hospital operates at the highest standards both now and into the future. 

“The $1 million upgrade at Yorketown Hospital will provide improvements to the hospital’s procedure room and a new decontamination unit, delivering more efficient and safer care to patients close to their home.    

“We are committed to improving regional health services and infrastructure to better support the health and wellbeing of all regional South Australians.” 

Local Liberal Member for Narungga Fraser Ellis said the commencement of these works is a celebration of the tireless work of the Yorketown, and wider SYP, community to ensure that regional communities are treated the same as their city counterparts when it comes to health care. 

“Memory of a packed Yorketown Town Hall protesting the planned removal of surgical services from Yorketown Hospital by the former Labor Government remains clear in my mind,” said Mr Ellis.  

“The timing of this upgrade couldn’t be better, as we head into our recovery phase from COVID-19 requiring multiple economic stimulus construction projects.  

“The $1 million upgrade of the surgical unit at Yorketown is a project close to my heart being an election promise of the Marshall Liberal Government. 

“The wait for such significant investment in Yorketown Hospital has been long but I am thrilled that this project is now scheduled to be completed by September this year.”  

 Yorketown Hospital and Health Service Executive Officer and Director of Nursing, Sharon Godleman, said the upgrades will ensure best infection-control methods at Yorketown Hospital. 

“This is an exciting time for our region and we are pleased to receive this much needed upgrade,” Ms Godleman said. 

“The new decontamination area will improve flow throughout the department and allow best management of surgical instruments and other medical supplies to ensure they are safely cleaned and disinfected, reducing the risk of cross-contamination.  

“The upgrade will also include improvements to drying cabinets for our surgical staff to use and new air conditioning in the procedure room, providing comfort and high-quality care to our patients for many years to come.” 

The construction tender for the upgrade has been awarded to South Australian company Total Commercial Maintenance. 

The upgrades are expected to be completed in September.