Almost $1.4 million will be invested in an innovative healthcare project in SA, to ensuring Eyre Peninsula residents get better access to quality healthcare.
Subscribe now for unlimited access to all our agricultural news
across the nation
or signup to continue reading
The project aims to attract, retain, and train doctors, nurses and allied health professionals across Eyre Peninsula including at Cleve, Cowell, Kimba, Wudinna, Elliston and Streaky Bay.
A new centralised model will support general practice and allied healthcare service delivery on Eyre Peninsula.
Primary care hubs will be created to recruit and retain healthcare professionals, and a virtual training hub will be implemented to upskill local nurses and drive community-led GP recruitment.
The project will be delivered by Northern Eyre Peninsula Health Alliance and will receive $1.38m through the federal government's Innovative Models of Care program.
The Eyre Peninsula project is one of 11 healthcare trials in rural and remote Australia to share in $15m of funding.
The projects support healthcare professionals to work together across disciplines in new ways to meet the healthcare needs of the local communities.
Federal Health and Aged Care Minister Mark Butler said trialing new and innovative ways of providing health services was essential.
"Trials like this will lead to better health care and better health outcomes, while also providing important data on the most effective ways to provide health care to rural and remote communities," he said.
"This project will help develop an innovative model of care that supports GP and allied healthcare workforce recruitment and retention and improve access to primary healthcare for Eyre Peninsula."
SA Health and Wellbeing Minister Chris Picton said the state government welcomed the investment to bolster the state's regional health workforce.
"We are already working with the federal government on rolling out the single employer model across regional SA, which aims to attract and retain GPs and rural generalist trainees," he said.
"Every South Australian deserves access to quality health care no matter where they live, and this project will help in providing better access to vital health services in our regions."
This comes as another healthcare win for the Eyre Peninsula was announced this week, with families in Whyalla able to give birth in their hometown once more.
From July 1, the Woonabie Birthing Unit will open its doors for birthing to women with low-risk pregnancies who are at 37 weeks or more gestation.
This will be the first time in more than a year that babies will be born in the town after a critical lack of midwives forced the closure of birthing services in June 2023.
Pregnant women may still be referred to Port Augusta Hospital or alternate services in special circumstances, including those requiring induction of labour or when the number of clients exceeds the capacity of the Whyalla Midwifery Team.
Mr Picton said the government understood this had taken a long time.
"But we wanted to make sure birthing services could be re-instated in a safe and appropriate way," he said.
"All the staff have done a wonderful job in getting to this point and I know they are excited to have birthing services return.
"This is an important day for Whyalla and one I'm sure the whole community has been waiting for.
Flinders and Upper North Local Health Network acting chief executive officer Angela McLachlan said the reestablishment of birthing services at the Whyalla Hospital would ensure pregnant women had access to high-quality care and where possible be able to birth closer to home.
"We will be working very closely with impacted mothers and families to help them plan for the birth of their newborn," she said.
"The staff have been magnificent in preparing for the reopening and this speaks to their dedication and commitment to local families.
"Access to the modern birthing facilities in Woonabie Unit has been crucial in assisting us to attract staff and has also supported our international recruitment efforts."
SA opposition spokesperson on regional health services Penny Pratt said restoring birthing services to Whyalla was a significant step forward but strategies were needed to ensure regional health services were reliable and accessible.
"Historically, around 250 babies have been born at Whyalla Hospital every year, but sadly, not one planned baby has been born there for the past 12 months," she said.
"It's meant expectant mothers who live in the region have been forced to travel elsewhere to have their children, which creates unexpected costs and throws plans into chaos."
She said incentives were needed to entice midwives, nurses and doctors to the regions and encourage experienced staff to stay.
"Unfortunately, Whyalla hasn't been alone in having troubles with its birthing services with Victor Harbor, Kangaroo Island, Waikerie, Gawler, and Kapunda also recently experiencing disruptions," she said.
