Case not made for SA health plan: Marshall

The South Australian government has underestimated community angst over its proposed health reforms, the opposition says.

More than 60,000 people have signed petitions protesting against the state Labor government's Transforming Health proposals.

The potential changes include closing Adelaide's Repatriation General Hospital and consolidating emergency treatment at "super sites" in three hospitals.

Queen Elizabeth and Modbury hospitals would no longer treat emergency patients, while Noarlunga Hospital's emergency department would be replaced by a nurse-run clinic.

Opposition Leader Steven Marshall says the government has failed to make the case for the closures.

"I don't think we've ever had such an overwhelming community interest in a piece of South Australian policy," he told reporters on Wednesday.

"The government has completely underestimated community angst regarding these proposals."

Savings could be found by trimming the number of health bureaucrats, Mr Marshall said.

"We're advocating less people in the bureaucracy and more people on the front line," he said.

A number of medical bodies, including the Australian Medical Association, have criticised the government for giving the community little time to respond to the proposals.

Labor backbenchers Chris Picton, Katrine Hildyard and Nat Cook have broken ranks with the government on the proposed changes at Noarlunga, saying emergency facilities should be kept.

Health Minister Jack Snelling has said the government will carefully consider all feedback.