New buildings to house nurses are under consideration by the Millicent Health Advisory Council.

The chronic shortage of accommodation has prompted the need for such buildings in the grounds of Millicent and District Hospital.

When the hospital was opened almost 60 years ago, the vast majority of nurses including the matron lived on site and the nurses’ home had dozens of rooms with shared facilities.

However, rising wages and a relaxation of rules meant nurses could live off-site.

The nurses’ home at Millicent became empty and the rooms were taken over by the SA Ambulance Service and Millicent Community Health.

Although Bankia House, Matheson Wing and the 60-bed Sheoak Lodge aged care facility have since been erected in the hospital grounds since 1964, Millicent HAC chairman Dr Kevin McGrath said there was enough space for the new nurses’ accommodation.

He said it was a separate project to the current renovation of the one-time Matron’s Flat into temporary accommodation for visiting student nurses.

Dr McGrath said the Millicent and Surrounds Heath Support Group was undertaking the work in stages.

He said the Lions Club of Beachport and Rivoli Bay had committed to renovating the shared kitchen for up to five student nurses.

Meanwhile, the renovation of the hospital’s palliative care room was nearing completion.

Dr McGrath said it was important that patients in the closing days of their lives were in pleasant surroundings and not just staring at four grey walls.

“You could buy a house at Mount Burr for what we have spent on upgrading the palliative care room at Millicent Hospital,” Dr McGrath said in a radio interview.

He welcomed the new outdoor murals painted by Millicent artist Peter Dunn as well as the new floor, bathroom and furniture.

The Millicent Cancer Support Group is donating the new bed.