Under-staffed psychiatric services concern
August 30, 2010
One psychiatrist will not be enough to maintain a long-term mental health service in the South East, according to the Australian Medical Association’s Andrew Lavender.
South Australian AMA president Dr Lavender told The Border Watch the government would need to invest in up to three psychiatrists for the region in order to retain the service, not just the promised one which Country Health SA says is currently being selected. Read more
Mental health patients forced to Adelaide
August 23, 2010
People with acute mental illnesses in Mount Gambier and the Limestone Coast are being apprehended by police, detained and flown to Adelaide every week due to the lack of access to a local psychiatrist or acute care options.
The Border Watch can reveal Limestone Coast Police have apprehended 50 people with acute mental illnesses this year for their safety and the safety of others. Read more
Online health pledge praise
August 19, 2010
Leaders in the medical field have broadly welcomed the government’s election commitment to increase funding for telemeds in rural and regional communities, but say it should not replace efforts to draw more doctors to the country.
At the Labor election campaign launch on Monday, Prime Minister Julia Gillard announced a $393m package focused on expanding and improving the current telemeds scheme, which primarily services regional areas. Read more
Health service blocks access to hospital report
August 19, 2010
A second attempt to access a review of the Mount Gambier Hospital Accident and Emergency Ward has been knocked back by a Country Health SA Freedom of Information officer.
The report, which is believed to contain information about the number of beds still needed in the emergency ward to meet current medical standards, and details about current waiting times, was compiled and delivered to the hospital by Adelaide-based doctor Peter Stuart early this year. Read more
Hospital floats rehabilitation plan
August 16, 2010
A new rehabilitation unit at the Mount Gambier Hospital for patients recovering from various medical conditions has been funded to employ 22 full-time staff, including physiotherapists, occupational therapists, a speech pathologist, nurses and a dietitian.
Infrastructure for the rehabilitation hub is not yet in place, but plans have been drawn for an extension to be constructed onto the medical ward, where the unit will be housed. Read more
Donation secures new hospital equipment
August 12, 2010
What started with only an idea a year ago reached full circle yesterday with the handover of the final donation towards a $100,000 cardiovascular ultrasound system for the Mount Gambier Hospital.
Zena Winser, daughter of trucking magnate Allan Scott AO, made the final donation towards the much needed piece of equipment in the form of $10,000 on behalf of the Scott Group of Companies. Read more
Health strategy disgust
July 21, 2010
GRANT District Council described a proposed 10-year health service plan for the South East as “appalling” and “lacking details and accountability” during a council meeting on Monday night.
“People in the South East deserve better – it is appalling to get a draft plan with no details and no accountability,” council’s chief executive officer Russell Peate said. Read more
Doctors shortfall
July 14, 2010
STRAIN on general practitioners and the struggle to bring more doctors to the city is proving a major factor in adding pressure to Mount Gambier Hospital’s emergency ward.
Member for Mount Gambier Don Pegler met with the city’s Health Advisory Council last Thursday night to discuss issues raised in a report on the hospital’s emergency ward, which found 12,000 of 17,000 admissions annually were GP-treatable. Read more
Health battle looms
July 12, 2010
MEMBER for Mount Gambier Don Pegler has vowed to push for an expansion of the accident and emergency ward of the Mount Gambier Hospital.
“The major problem we have is the standard of one bed per 1000 patients is failing to be met in the Mount Gambier ward, where 17,000 people come through a year with only about six beds available,” he said. Read more
Flu vaccine shortage eases
June 16, 2010
Unexpected high demand for the seasonal flu vaccine has lead to a shortage of supplies in pharmacies around Mount Gambier, but the situation is set to ease as fresh supplies arrived late last week.
Centro Mount Gambier City Pharmacy’s head pharmacist Matthew Dixon said it had been a nightmare for pharmacists to source stock from manufacturers. Read more
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