Country Health Plan

Health Advisory Councils calling for community input into health services

Within the Goyder Electorate there are three Health Advisory Councils:

• Yorke Peninsula - Mrs Helen Colliver, PO Box 124, Arthurton SA 5572 
• Northern Yorke Peninsula - Mr Peter Egel, PO Box 182, Moonta SA 5558 
• Balaklava Riverton - Mrs Margaret Rankine, 22 Francis Street, Balaklava SA 5461 

Currently input from the community into a 10 year health service plan is being sought until January 2010.  To have your say complete the 10 Year Health Service Survey and send to your local Health Advisory Council representative. 

Country Healthcare Plan 2
$31 million cuts still on the table

Wednesday, 17 December 2008

The State Opposition has branded the Government’s second Country Healthcare Plan irrelevant following its release today. Strategy for Planning Country Health Services in SA

Shadow Minister for Health Vickie Chapman thanked the Country Health Taskforce for their hard work but said the plan released by the Government was irrelevant without a new funding commitment.

“Without a funding commitment to ensure existing services are maintained and additional services can be provided in the future this plan doesn’t mean a thing.

“Once again we have seen the Minister trumpet the ‘Big Four’ hospitals of which two have received funding for capital works.

“The truth is the Rann Government has provided less money for the provision of country health services this year than they did last year.

“Country Hospitals are working well and generating revenue, the money being committed by the Treasurer is actually less than in 2007/08.

“If they were serious about adding to health services in the country they would have abandoned the $31 million budget cut to country health.

“Minister Hill needs a lot more than a travelling bureaucrat road show to regain the trust of South Australians.

“The SA Liberals have been out there with people in the bush the whole time. We don’t pick and choose when to care about the country.

“The Minister’s spin needs to be unravelled to show how little his Government actually cares about the country.”
 

Take Two on Country Health Care Plan
 

Monday, 10 November 2008

The Rann Government’s revised Strategy for Planning Country Health Services in SA was released last week (6 November 2008) following public backlash towards the original plan which was released in July.

Member for Goyder, Steven Griffiths while pleased that the State Governments revised strategy is open for public consultation and people are able to submit feedback on the planning of country health services at all levels is disappointed that the new strategy does not detail services at each hospital and health service across country South Australia.

A major problem is that the strategy does not make clear the future of individual health services and hospitals but outlines approaches to the delivery and coordination of health care services in country areas, including the implementation of “local clinical network” groups.

“Regional communities in South Australia rightly expect to access high quality health care within a reasonable distance to where they live. It is essential that throughout this consultation period we reiterate the fact that any future plans for our local health services need to focus on the needs of patients, carers and their families, Mr Griffiths said.

The Taskforce have developed principles which will be used to guide planning of country health services including ensuring minimum levels of service delivery for all country hospitals and health services, in consultation and agreement with local communities, are sustained.

“In acknowledging such principles, which are fantastic in theory, it is time for the government to make meaningful funding commitments to rural health infrastructure and workforce – we want to know that our local health services are secure, Mr Griffiths said.

Where consultation should have occurred before the first plan was released, the second time around taxpayers will again foot a massive bill for another Rann Government advertising campaign on top of the $400,000 spent on marketing the previous failed plan.

It is also evident that the Rann Government’s commitment to building the Marjorie Jackson Nelson Hospital has seen them search for ways to provide funding for it. It is cause for concern that they continue to look for ways to tighten up spending on regional health services to fund city based projects.

“I understand the importance of our health services; they are the backbone of our communities, and it is vital we fight to maintain them.

The Strategy for Planning Country Health Services in SA is open for consultation with submissions closing on Friday, 5 December 2008. You can access the draft plan by visiting www.countryhealthsa.sa.gov.au or by contacting the Goyder Electorate Office on 8832 2455.

“I urge everyone in the community who cares about the future of our health services to contact me and contribute your feedback”.

Draft Strategy for Planning Country Health Services in SA - November 2008