Brendan Simpkins

GAWLER Hospital is set to undergo a significant operation, with the State Government committing to a multi-million dollar upgrade of its emergency department (ED).

Ahead of the 2020/21 state budget release early next month, minister for health Stephen Wade made the surprise announcement on Monday.

Forming part of a wider $42.8 million stimulus package to improve healthcare, Gawler Hospital will receive $15 million to undertake the expansion.

It will increase the hospital’s emergency department from four treatment spaces to 16 and will create 60 jobs during the life of the project.

The cash injection was announced alongside other significant investments to Modbury Hospital and the repat, and a $10 million for regional health sustainability works for country hospitals.

Mr Wade said Gawler Hospital was an example of looking “both ways,” servicing both metropolitan and regional communities

“It looks to the city and away from the city, so people from Lyell McEwin come here,” he said.

“But even if you don’t allow for people coming outside the region… this is a region which is significantly growing. In the 20 years from 2016 to 2026 there is almost a 40 per cent increase in population so we need to plan for that.

“This ED, that at times has been busier than the Modbury Hospital with a much larger ED, so being able to put a $15 million investment into the Gawler ED will mean it will be able to significantly increase capacity.”

The new emergency department will interface with the hospital’s recently completed Short Stay Unit.

Mr Wade said the significant investment did not mean a new hospital for the Barossa Valley was now off the table, stating that planning was still underway.

Member for Schubert Stephan Knoll said the investment at Gawler Hospital complemented the work in the Barossa rather than detracting from it.

“They are, to a degree, two different catchments,” he said.

“The current Angaston and Tanunda Hospitals are further north and they do work together, we see a lot of people, especially for maternity, come down here but it shows we are putting in the effort to know what is necessary.”

Mr Knoll said the investment would benefit towns in the southern Barossa Valley, as well as areas like Roseworthy and Wasleys further north.

Barossa Hills Fleurieu Local Health Network (LHN) will now take the next steps in planning for the upgrade.

The LHN has multiple options for the location of the new emergency department, with one being a complete overhaul of the current site and another being to move it elsewhere.

Meanwhile, Member for Light Tony Piccolo welcomed the announcement, but said more funding was needed to provide a boost for local paramedics.

“While having a better emergency department is important, if more ambulances aren’t available to transport people, there we really haven’t solved the whole problem,” he said.

“Local paramedics have warned of the risk to people’s health because of the lack of proper resourcing for the local ambulance service.”