Inquiry on the Delivery of Health Services on Yorke Peninsula opens

The SA Parliament’s Economic and Finance Committee has called for submissions to the formal Inquiry into our health services that was by law, triggered by the lodging of our petition last year with its near 11,000 signatures.

So, whilst it has been two years and one month since we launched our health petition, finally we have the outcome we aimed for – a formal Inquiry by the Parliament and a valuable opportunity to have our say and ultimately, instigate system change!

This wonderful outcome would not have been possible without the support of a lot of community-minded people across the Narungga electorate who signed and circulated sheets and did so purely because they care about country health care.

It was the largest petition ever undertaken in our electorate’s history, and to have it referred to the Parliament’s Economic and Finance Committee for investigation is also a ground-breaking first.

The next, vital step is to lodge as many submissions to the Inquiry as possible.

Regional hospitals must be relied upon to provide appropriate care, and Wallaroo Hospital especially, being our growing region’s major facility, desperately needs an upgrade and more beds and staff to better support associated hospitals including Maitland and Yorketown.

The Economic and Finance Committee has announced the following four terms of reference which it is to specifically investigate: 

1. the classification of the Wallaroo Hospital

2. the most appropriate Local Health Network coverage of the Port Pirie Hospital

3. factors impacting the delivery of health services on the Yorke Peninsula and especially in relation to access and equity; and

4. any other matter relating to health services on the Yorke Peninsula

I encourage all who have had a noteworthy interaction with our local health – good or bad – to make a submission. We need to make sure that the decision makers know what is working for us and what needs to change.

Closing date to have submissions in is 7 February 2025 (5 pm). I know we are in a busy Christmas and harvest season, but this timing will also capture the attention of our thousands of visitors who holiday with us who I’m aware are also passionate about local health service delivery.

Inundating the committee with submissions will appropriately reflect the unprecedented, high and wide level of community concern felt about local health services.

The action we take now is in support of our hard-working doctors, nurses and volunteer ambos who are under the pump in a stretched system in dire need of additional resourcing; and is also for all who reside in our region who need and deserve the reassurance of having an appropriate level of health services at hand when needed.

Submissions can be posted to The Parliamentary Officer, Economic and Finance Committee, GPO Box 572, Adelaide SA 5001, or emailed to [email protected]   

For further information visit www.parliament.sa.gov.au/en/Committees/EFC