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Clare and Mid North get health boost

5 January 2009

The State Government will continue to boost health services in Clare and the Mid North - including more elective surgery provided locally.

Health Minister John Hill says the Government has been able to offer extra elective surgery in Clare over the past 12 months, with six major orthopaedic procedures at a cost of $67,000 supported by the Commonwealth's elective surgery campaign.

Similarly, it  has been able to offer extra elective surgery in the Mid North, with 26 extra procedures in Port Pirie.

"And we intend to continue to provide more surgery so people don't have to travel as often outside their region for treatment,'' he says.

Minister Hill says the State Government's budget for country health has jumped by 55% over the past six years, with spending growing to $591 million in 2007-08.

"And we've employed 482 more nurses across country South Australia over that period.

"We are spending more then ever on delivering the best services to country South Australia - we are increasing spending every year.

"We have a strategy for country health developed in co-operation with country communities.

Minister Hill says that the Government's spending on health in Clare includes a planned $245,000 from the State and Commonwealth governments for fire safety at the Kara House residential aged care facility.

In the Mid North, it includes:

  • a planned $12.5 million GP Plus Health Care Centre at Port Pirie;
  • $2.4 million spent on improving Hammill House aged care facility;
  • $1.3 million from the State and Commonwealth Governments to be spent on fire safety at Port Pirie Hospital and Hammill House.

List of health commitments to Clare

List of health commitments to Mid North