Nursing federation 'not convinced' sweeping changes to South Australian healthcare will lead to improved services

Sweeping changes to the state emergency healthcare system have been proposed to combat the finding that South Australia has more than 500 hospital deaths a year higher than the national average.

Several existing emergency departments will close to make way for elective day and multi-day surgeries, while others will be made into “super” emergency centres.

The new “super” departments will be put in place at the Royal Adelaide, Lyell McEwen and Flinders hospitals, where senior doctors will reportedly always be working during overnight and weekend shifts.

However, the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation (ANMF) is not convinced services will be improved.

“Without knowing what savings will be made, we could just be in for another paper, after paper, cut after cut,” ANMF representative​ Elizabeth Debars said.

“We’re not sure how, when and why, what it will mean to community services, how many staff will be lost in this process, there’s no detail.

“Obviously we will have to work on the work force issues, there will be large numbers of people who will have to change where they work,” Ms Debars said.

Among the changes, Noarlunga Hospital’s Emergency Department will close, with the facility to be used solely for elective day surgery.

The South Adelaide surgery will service patients from all over South Australia.

The Queen Elizabeth’s Emergency Department will also be scaled back with an elective multi-day surgery put in place.

The reforms also state that whether a patient lives or dies can vary by up to 50% depending on which hospital they attend.

Health Minister Jack Snerling said the reforms will save lives and money.

“When you provide better quality care, you provide a more cost efficient system,” the minister said.