Working group established to reopen Strath Emergency Department

The long-awaited reopening of the Strathalbyn Hospital Emergency Department (ED) will soon be investigated by a new working group which will decide on a model of care to re-establish services at the facility. 

As previously reported in The Southern Argus, the local ED was ‘temporarily closed’ 945 days ago in response to the COVID pandemic, and has since been unable to re-open due to alleged ‘workforce challenges’. 

But the prolonged closure may be set to change, with the Barossa Hills Fleurieu Local Health Network (BHFLHN) now finalising a list of stakeholders to be involved in a working group comprised of local clinicians, SA Ambulance Service, and members of the Strathalbyn community and nearby regions to re-open the facility.

The working group is scheduled to meet for the first-time next month, and will assess what is needed to meet growing demands in the region, review similar models of care, and provide recommendations to the LHN for consideration.

The news follows calls from Member for Hammond Adrian Pederick previously published in The Argus for a working group like the one established for the Gumeracha ED to be instated. 

“We are committed to delivering the best possible care to the community, and always strive to find new and better ways to meet the needs of the growing population of the Strathalbyn region,” BHFLHN CEO, Rebecca Graham, said. 

“We look forward to doing this important work with local stakeholders to plan for the community’s urgent care needs, and I thank participants for their time and support.”

In addition to the working group, the State Government has also announced a six-bed Geriatric Evaluation Management (GEM) Unit has opened at the Strathalbyn Hospital for patients aged over 65 who have complex geriatric conditions.

The new beds – which are part of a 12-month trial to meet growing demand for specialist geriatric across the region – will help rehabilitate patients, keep them active and independent, and reduce the need to seek premature residential aged care. 

A team of clinicians will work with patients to help them retain and improve their day-to-day skills, boost memory function, encourage exercise, and socialise with others as part of their hospital stay. 

Eligible patients also include those with dementia or cognitive impairment, functional decline, and/or fall risk, with the new service allowing older residents to receive care locally and safely return home long-term. 

“We are committed to providing older South Australians the best possible care closer to their homes and families,” Health Minister, Chris Picton, said. 

“This model of specialist care is enabling more people to stay at home longer, maintain their independence, and avoid early transition into an aged care setting. 

“We are also determined to support better health care across the region by establishing a new working group, and reverse the former government’s mess. 

“The group will be focused on hearing directly from affected residents, and explore options to best suit their urgent care needs.”

The State Government remained committed to addressing the workforce challenges faced in re-establishing the Strathalbyn ED and other regional clinics, including Federal Government rules around GP payments that can prove a significant barrier for local GPs to provide on-call services to the emergency department.