HEALTH Minister Stephen Wade has denied claims support staff for the State Government’s regional health reforms will be Adelaide-based.
The government’s revamp of rural health, which saw six regional local health networks (LHN) replace the now defunct SA, officially launched on July 1 after being phased in since the
start of the year.
The Barossa Hills Fleurieu network will oversee health services in Gawler and the Barossa, including the Gawler Health Service.
More than 200 rural support service staff will assist the regional health boards, with a new office for the staff to be established in Nuriootpa.
Last Monday, opposition health spokesperson Chris Picton claimed the support service staff were “219 rebadged Adelaide-based bureaucrats”.
“The Liberals’ claim that they have decentralised Country Health is nothing more than spin,” he said.
“What they’re not telling regional South Australians is that their changes will see hundreds of bureaucrats based in Adelaide making decisions that impact directly on the health care needs of people in the country.
“No additional staff and no additional resources are moving to
the regions under these reforms – instead we’re seeing staff cuts in country local networks proposed in the recent state
budget.”
In response to Mr Picton’s claims, Mr Wade said 115 of the approximately 222 rural support service staff were currently based in Adelaide, but were expected to move to the Nuriootpa centre upon its completion.
“Labor has actively worked to sabotage the Marshall Liberal Government’s devolution of health governance to local communities,” he said.
“Under the Marshall Liberal Government, we have devolved power from head office in the city to six local regional boards.
“Each board has its base in their own region, they appoint their own CEOs and they make decisions in their local
communities.
“The network of boards will be supported by the Rural Support Service with staff across the state.”