The McLaren Vale and Districts War Memorial Hospital will close at the end of June and is likely to become an aged care facility.

The hospital board wrote to staff yesterday, Monday 27 March to officially advise them of the closure and put a media release on its Facebook page.

It says the hospital has struggled for many years to remain viable because of ageing infrastructure, escalating costs and difficulty recruiting medical staff.

“The board and the local community are incredibly grateful to the dedicated and committed staff that have worked so tirelessly to care for patients and keep our hospital open despite these enormous pressures.”

The board says it has explored every possible option to keep the hospital open and the decision to close was not due to a lack of government support.

“Realistically, even with government support we are unable to stay open.”

It is negotiating with not for profit aged care provider Kalyra to offer aged care services on site.

"The reality is that the hospital is only used by a small proportion of local people. In 2022 we had just 202 admissions.

"Importantly, our community facility will continue to provide key local services. We have an ageing population, with almost 24 per cent of the McLaren Vale population aged 65 and over and this decision will provide much needed new aged care services for our communitv."

The hospital currently provides a short term restorative program for Southern Adelaide Local Health Network patients to assist with recovery and facilitating a return to home.

Its services include restorative nursing care, personal care, palliative care, and post-acute care, as well care while awaiting aged care placement.

The board says kitchen staff are likely to retain employment with Kalyra and the local health network will advise nursing staff about employment opportunities.

It says staff who lose their jobs will receive their employment entitlements and redundancy payments where eligible.

There has been an outpouring of sadness at the closure on social media, with the community mourning the loss of the hospital.

Many have expressed fear for the future lack of local rehabilitation facilities for patients released from Flinders Medical Centre.

Southern Adelaide Local Health Network CEO Kerrie Freeman has acknowledged and thanked the staff of the McLaren Vale Hospital for the excellent care provided over many years of operation.

"Around nine public patients a day receive care at McLaren Vale Hospital and following the closure of the hospital, these types of patients will be cared for at the Repat Health Precinct," she says.

"We welcome any expansion of aged care services as this allows people to move from their hospital stay back to the community in a timely manner."

Provision of private surgery and consultations stopped at the McLaren Vale Hospital several years ago after Seaford Day Surgery opened.

The board says it knows how special the hospital is to the community, and it will announce shortly how local people can pay tribute to the hospital and recognise the commitment and hard work of dedicated staff and volunteers.

"The next step will be a Special General Meeting likely to be held in late April 2023 for hospital members to vote on the resolution."