Campaign for overnight doctor

Federal Member for Mayo Rebekha Sharkie has taken her campaign to bring an overnight doctor to the Mt Barker Hospital to the State Government.

The NXT MP recently spoke the need for an out of hours GP with Health Minister Jack Snelling and raised the issue with SA Premier Jay Weatherill during a meeting in Canberra last week.

“The lack of access to a doctor at the Mt Barker hospital after hours, particularly late at night and on weekends, was one of the biggest complaints I heard from residents during the election campaign,” Ms Sharkie said.

“With Mt Barker now one of the fastest growing regional centres in Australia, I promised people I would lobby hard to bring a doctor to their local hospital beyond the limited GPcare After-Hours operating at the Summit Health Centre, particularly overnight.

“When you’re a mum with a toddler with Croup, the last thing you need is a 45 minute drive down to a city hospital followed by hours of waiting so far away from home.

“Providing health services might be a State responsibility but it is my job to pursue and find solutions to the concerns facing my constituents.”

Ms Sharkie said the initial conversations with Minister Snelling and Premier Weatherill were positive.

“It is early stages but I have now made the Health Minister and the Premier very aware of how important an issue this is for the region, particularly with the growth we’re experiencing the expectations many new residents have about a local hospital,” she said.

“I will continue to lobby the Minister and the Premier to seek a way to bring better overnight and weekend services to Mt Barker.”