Surgical procedures could be in jeopardy at Millicent and District Hospital if certain facilities were not upgraded to meet mandated standards.

The warning was sounded by senior staff when the Limestone Coast Local Health Network Regional Board recently met at Millicent.

Operations have been performed by local and visiting surgeons on the site ever since the hospital opened in 1964.

Although birthing services ceased at Millicent in 2013, operating theatres are used most weekdays for day surgery.

According to the LCLHN Regional Board minutes, Millicent Hospital executive officer and director of nursing Michelle de Wit reported on the challenges at her hospital.

She said there was a risk to surgical services due to the required upgrades for theatre sterilisation equipment and storage areas.

The minutes also state the LCLHN clinical governance committee had identified similar works were needed at the Mount Gambier, Naracoorte and Bordertown hospitals to maintain compliance with increased requirements under accreditation standards.

The required upgrades at the Naracoorte Hospital can be completed within the theatre expansion project.

Consultant services are to be engaged to scope the required infrastructure works and capital investment that will be needed to complete the works at the Mount Gambier, Millicent and Bordertown sites.

The LCLHN Regional Board heard early indications were current funding allocation would not be sufficient.

According to the minutes, there are funding considerations such as diverting capital expenditure from non-urgent projects in the short term whilst a formal proposal and request for additional funding is developed.

The LCLHN Regional Board discussed the need for long term planning for a regional model for surgical services, and the potential to consolidate investment in infrastructure works to provide high quality facilities that support best practice service provision.