An assurance that essential equipment in the operating theatres at Millicent and District Hospital will be upgraded has been given to Wattle Range Mayor Des Noll.

Higher mandated standards will be applied to storage areas and sterilisation equipment and take effect across the state.

Mayor Noll said he had raised the matter with Millicent Health Advisory Council chairman Dr Kevin McGrath after seeing a news report in “The SE Voice”.

In reply, Dr McGrath told the mayor the equipment and storage requirements would be addressed through the budget-setting process.

Mayor Noll briefly referred to the Millicent Hospital situation in his printed report to the October monthly council meeting.

Councillor Sharon Cox then sought additional information during the meeting.

“It was something I wanted to bring to the attention of council,” Mayor Noll said.

Meanwhile, the higher mandated standards continue to be a red-button issue for the Limestone Coast Local Health Network.

The published minutes of a recent LCLHN regional board meeting reveal the matter is one which is being brought to the attention of SA Health chief executive Dr Robyn Lawrence.

The requirement to address non-compliant sterilisation equipment and storage areas is regarded as an extreme risk with the potential to impact service delivery.

The other “extreme risks” are insufficient funds to repair or replace infrastructure and equipment and workforce challenges such as the reliance on agency and locum staff.