Strathalbyn Health Services

Mr PEDERICK (Hammond) (16:41): My question is to the Minister for Health and Wellbeing. Can the minister provide an update on the status of the Kalimna Hostel aged-care centre in Strathalbyn? With your leave and that of the house, sir, I will explain.

Leave granted.

Mr PEDERICK: During the previous term of government, $3 million was allocated towards the redevelopment and reactivation of the Kalimna Hostel.

The Hon. C.J. PICTON (Kaurna—Minister for Health and Wellbeing) (16:42): I thank the member for Hammond for his question. Certainly, I am aware of the aged-care services provided at Strathalbyn, and I think in the past two or three months I was able to visit Strathalbyn hospital and meet with the staff, who are providing excellent services.

My understanding is that the majority of that funding that was spent under the previous government was in terms of upgrading the services in relation to the current hospital site and expanding those aged-care services. Those aged-care services are really excellent now, I have to say. I met with the staff there who are providing very high-quality services and I think, in fact, they have won or been nominated for a number of different awards for the work that they are doing.

I was able to visit the site across the road, the former site, which was closed down many years ago due to issues in terms of its fire maintenance and other issues with that site being able to be provided safely. That site is still not in a position to be appropriately used, but the Barossa Hills Fleurieu Local Health Network is exploring opportunities in which it could be used for some various clinical purposes. That may well be in terms of consultations or outpatient clinics. Bronwyn Masters, the Chief Executive Officer of the Barossa Hills Fleurieu Local Health Network, is leading that work in terms of looking at what the future use of that site could be, particularly as we will be undertaking the building of a new hospital at Mount Barker as well. That may well provide an opportunity to have some of those services based in the Strathalbyn region.