Member for Mount Gambier Troy Bell said he has been assured the Mount Gambier Hospital has the equipment, resourcing and staff necessary to deal with a COVID-19 outbreak, should it occur in the region.
Last week Mr Bell raised concerns the Limestone Coast will be unprepared for COVID outbreaks once interstate borders reopen, asking questions in State Parliament about the facilities available to treat COVID cases at the Mount Gambier Hospital.
“Concerns have been raised with me regarding the fact the Mount Gambier Hospital has no dedicated COVID facilities, including a ventilator, and no COVID-approved area with appropriate ventilation requirements,” Mr Bell told the House of Assembly last week.
As Health Minister Stephen Wade sits in the Upper House, Education Minister John Gardner responded on his behalf.
“I will check the details that he has suggested may be the case and bring back an answer for the house,” Mr Gardner said.
Mr Bell told The SE Voice that he feared an outbreak of cases in the region once border restrictions were removed.
“I want to make sure our community is prepared and ready when we start having COVID cases,” he said.
“It is inevitable that we will have cases, but we need to make sure our health facilities are adequately resourced so that we can cope with this.
“I have been assured the hospital has all of the resources they need and am more than prepared to take any request the hospital might have straight to the powers that be in Adelaide.”
Earlier this month, Mr Bell said he had discussed several important health issues with Mr Wade at his office during his visit to the Limestone Coast region.
“I discussed the issues our local residents are experiencing when they are attempting to apply for a health exemption to return to SA.
“We also discussed how we can improve palliative care services in the region.”
A SA Health spokesperson said Mount Gambier Hospital “remains vigilant regarding COVID-19 screening of all individuals entering the facility, including answering a series of questions regarding close contacts, exposure locations and quarantine requirements”.
“Since the start of the pandemic, the management of any people presenting to emergency departments with respiratory symptoms has changed to contain potentially contaminated surfaces, increase cleaning requirements and cease aerosol generating procedures in the ED (emergency department),” the spokesperson said.
“Mount Gambier Hospital has two negative pressure rooms designed for the management of patients with potentially infectious diseases.
“The Communicable Disease Control Branch of SA Health will arrange the transfer of any COVID-19 positive patients to Adelaide.
“However, if required, Mount Gambier Hospital has the capability to manage COVID-19 positive patients in two negative pressure rooms and also has 10 ventilators available.”
