Naracoorte Health Service

65 65Mrs HURN (Schubert) (12 September 2023). In relation to the Naracoorte Health Service planning, can you explain the rationale for spending $1 million on a planning study for health services in one regional community?

The Hon. C.J. PICTON (Kaurna—Minister for Health and Wellbeing): I have been advised:

The $1 million allocated to undertake a planning study for the delivery of health services in the Naracoorte region in the 2023-24 state budget is intended to understand further funding opportunities for the Naracoorte Health Service (NHS). This includes the supporting design work for additional staging of capital work priorities, with stage 1 providing $8 million to support initial upgrades at the site.

The funding will be split with $750,000 dedicated specifically for the Naracoorte Health Service (NHS), and the remaining $250,000 to progress a clinical services and infrastructure plan for the entire Limestone Coast region.

The NHS stage 1 projects include upgrades to the emergency department, infection prevention and control infrastructure and priority engineering services.

The NHS is the second largest health service site in the Limestone Coast Local Health Network (LCLHN) and the planning study is expected to deliver a master plan which will incorporate both service and infrastructure planning and integrate with regional LCLHN services and infrastructure planning, which will ensure the long-term viability of the Naracoorte Health Service.