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New emergency department for Mount Barker Hospital

The Liberal National Government will invest $8.6 million to build a new emergency department at Mount Barker Hospital in South Australia, improving important health services for people throughout the Adelaide Hills region.

The Hon Greg Hunt MP
Former Minister for Health and Aged Care

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Audience:
General public

The Liberal National Government will invest $8.6 million to build a new Emergency Department at Mount Barker Hospital in South Australia, improving important health services for people throughout the Adelaide Hills region.

Funding through the Government’s Community Health and Hospitals Program (CHHP) will deliver the new emergency department that will cater for up to 22,000 presentations per year over the next decade.

Minister for Health, Greg Hunt said the funding will help reduce operational pressures and enable the hospital to meet the growing demand in Mount Barker and the Adelaide Hills.

“Admissions to the Mount Barker Hospital emergency department have almost tripled since 2015, and that is why our Government is delivering on this important funding commitment, to future proof the hospital,” Minister Hunt said.

“The community has been advocating for improved services, and through strong representation by the South Australian Government and the Candidate for Mayo, Georgina Downer, the needs will be met.”

“The new emergency department will provide important additional facilities, including a separate ambulance entry, triage, treatment and minor procedure rooms, low stimulus room, consulting rooms and two secure paediatric observation beds.”

“A larger waiting area, relatives’ room, and accessible toilet and shower will provide a more consumer centred environment.”

“The Liberal National Government is committed to improving health services throughout Australia and building a world class health system.”

“By delivering our plan for a strong economy we can make investments in projects like the Mount Barker Hospital that South Australians want and need,” Minister Hunt said.

The announcement follows a $1.25 billion funding boost for health services and infrastructure in regional and rural communities announced late last year by the Australian Government.

South Australian Minister for Health and Wellbeing Stephen Wade said he was committed to working with the Commonwealth Government so the communities of the Adelaide Hills and Fleurieu Peninsula can get emergency care closer to home.

“The Liberal team has been proactively lobbying to secure Federal funds for the Adelaide Hills and Fleurieu for months,” Minister Wade said.

“One of our key priorities was an upgrade of the Mount Barker Hospital emergency department so I’m delighted with the Commonwealth’s commitment today.

“The Mount Barker and Hills community is growing rapidly and they need and deserve modern infrastructure, close to where they live.”

Liberal Candidate for Mayo, Georgina Downer said she had been lobbying for $8.55 million for the Mount Baker Hospital upgrades, that will support better patient care while reducing pressure on community and hospital services.

“Since 2018, I’ve been working at Federal and State levels with Ministers Greg Hunt and Stephen Wade to ensure they understand the health needs of the growing Hills community,” Ms Downer said.

“The Adelaide Hills, and in particular Mount Barker, are a fast-growing community and the Mount Barker Hospital can’t cope with current demand.

“This investment by the Federal Government to build a new and enlarged emergency department will enable the hospital to cope with the increase in presentations through the next decade, delivering world-class health care to our Hills community, locally.”

Established in 2018, the Liberal National Government’s $1.25 billion Community Health and Hospitals Fund supports:

  • Specialist hospital services such as cancer treatment, rural health and hospital infrastructure
  • Drug and alcohol treatment
  • Preventive, primary and chronic disease management
  • Mental health

The Government’s strong economic management ensures the continued record investment into vital health initiatives including mental health, life-saving medicines, Medicare and hospitals.

(Joint media release with the Hon. Stephen Wade MLC, SA Minister for Health and Wellbeing, and Georgina Downer, Liberal Candidate for Mayo)

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