The Southern Fleurieu Health Service will take over the co-located Victor Harbor private hospital when it closes on 19 April after 24 years.

The closure was announced on 19 February, with chair Phil Goode telling ABC radio the private hospital was not financially viable.

Local MP for Finniss Davide Basham says the closure is a disappointing end to an era, but he is pleased that the government has committed to keeping the beds open.

“I understand that the Southern Fleurieu Health service will go from a 32-bed hospital to a 48-bed provision with an increase of two renal dialysis units.

“I commend the government on this move to provide better health care options closer to home and alleviate pressures on metropolitan sites. 

“It is a fantastic decision to absorb and maintain the additional infrastructure from Victor Harbor Private Hospital, so that its community legacy can continue.”

Mr Basham says he and the Shadow minister for regional health, Penny Pratt, will be holding the state government to account to ensure it stands by its promise to keep the additional beds open.

He says the situation is a result of the disastrous Transforming Health policy of the previous Labor government, ”that removed local GPs from public hospital service, creating a divide that hurt health care and damaged relationships.”

Mr Basham says there is already a shortfall in local health services ability to meet growing demand in the region.

“I am concerned about the surgical services for public patients that have historically been made possible by the additional opportunity to operate on private patients. 

“Even with the transfer of beds to the public hospital, the hospital will continue to struggle to keep up with the Fleurieu’s rapidly growing population.

“Work has not yet begun on an eight-bed expansion to the hospital’s emergency department and an additional 2 renal dialysis units were announced in 2019.”