Country general hospitals

The four country general hospitals at Berri, Mount Gambier, Port Lincoln and Whyalla will be developed to manage the majority of health care needs so that only patients requiring highly specialised or complex care will need to travel to Adelaide.

These hospitals will develop an increased capacity for medical, surgical, emergency and general health care, resulting in additional requirements and capacity for teaching in these regions.

The following core services will be expanded:  

• rehabilitation
• aged care
• palliative care
• renal dialysis
• general medicine
• paediatrics
• mental health
• obstetrics and gynaecology
• ambulatory (outpatient) services
• chemotherapy
• primary health
• allied health
• domiciliary care 

Berri redevelopment

$41 million has been allocated for capital works to allow more services to be provided at Berri, including:  

• an expanded and refurbished emergency department, 
• two fully equipped theatres, 
• enhanced mental health 
• palliative care services,
• renal dialysis services will double from two chairs to four

Whyalla Hospital Cancer Centre

$15 million has been invested by the State Government to help build the $69.3 million Regional Cancer Centre at the Whyalla Hospital. 

The works will involve new building construction and refurbishment of some existing facilities, creating a modern cancer centre integrated with current services. The project will deliver: 

• upgraded operating theatres
• six chemotherapy chairs
• more accommodation for patients, their families and their loved-ones,
• more on-site car parking. 

Services provided at the Cancer Centre will include: 

• preventative care
• screening and early diagnosis
• therapy
• survivorship 
• end of life care

The surgical ward and day procedure unit will also be relocated so they are closer to the operating theatres and other services.