Crucial funding for Ardrossan Hospital sought

Member for Narungga Fraser Ellis MP has formally sought a commitment from the new Labor Government to urgently allocate crucial funding for Ardrossan Community Hospital’s Accident and Emergency Unit.

“The former Liberal Government provided $720,000 over the last four years to offset the substantial cost to Ardrossan Community Hospital in providing its 24/7 public emergency care and the Liberals pledged to continue this funding if successful at the State election.

“However, no such commitment was received from the Labor Party pre-election despite Minister Picton visiting the facility last November and reportedly being sympathetic to the cause”, Mr Ellis said. 

“The quarterly payments from State Government crucially offset the cost of running the Accident and Emergency Unit, providing associated specialist medical staff and equipment and the cost of retrieval, care and transfer of uninsured emergency patients. These public services can’t continue without such assistance.

“It is crucial that at a bare minimum, a similar amount be allocated by the new government so that the community can be assured that its Accident and Emergency services can continue post 30 June when current funding arrangements cease.

“Indeed, noting the Labor Government’s pre-election pledge of $1.5 million per annum over seven years for the community-run Keith Hospital, I am advocating with Minister Picton for the same commitment to be made to Ardrossan Community Hospital given it plays the same vital role in our community as Keith Hospital does in the south-east.

“It is imperative that Ardrossan Community Hospital continues to provide 24/7 emergency care for the region -- for residents, hundreds of holiday-home owners and for the thousands of tourists annually who travel the major Vincent and Yorke Highways to visit Yorke Peninsula. The uncertainty of having no committed funding is naturally causing the Board of Management grave concern.

“Labor’s main election platform was improving health services and I sincerely believe they are genuine in wanting to make improvements across the state. That being the case this is an obvious shortfall in health funding, and I hope that they will recognise it and commit funding toward ensuring it continues.

“It is hoped that all the needs raised publicly pre-election can now translate to committed funding for Ardrossan Hospital’s Accident and Emergency Unit and ultimately, funding for upgrades to all our public hospitals in the Narungga electorate for which I plan to loudly advocate”.