Three South East communities taking on their Local Health Networks in a bid to have their community nursing services reinstated say there is still work to be done.
The Limestone Coast and Riverland Mallee Coorong Local Health Networks insist the changes made in the past six months or so to Lucindale as well as Coonalpyn and Tintinara including centralising phone lines to Naracoorte and Murray Bridge and seeing patients by appointment only are improving the health services to these towns.
However communities have spoken out about not being able to book appointments in a timely manner for wound dressings, blood tests and other nursing services. There are also reports that patients are being urged to travel to larger centres, 50kms or more away.
After Health Minister Chris Picton heard their concerns in a meeting about a month ago he made it clear to the health network management they needed to consult with these communities and restore their confidence in the health service.
On Tuesday night in a closed meeting the LCLHN agreed to a review with a small working group comprising management, staff, GPs and community members. The first meeting will be held by the end of April.
Naracoorte Lucindale Council mayor Patrick Ross says it was good to have clarified that Lucindale did not have a "drop in service" but appointments only - something which the Local Health Network had repeatedly said.
He says an important first step which would show the good faith by LCLHN should be restoring the landline back at Lucindale on the days of the week the nurses are present.
"When someone from Lucindale ring up their call is answered by a trusted friend (nurse) who understands their particular medical condition rather than an answering machine," he said.
"The LCLHN said their information was appointments were returned that same day but the community present had different experiences to share."
In a joint statement LCLHN chief executive officer Emma Poland and Mr Ross agreed the review would consider the scope of community nursing services, ensuring documentation processes are efficient as possible, ease of access and how to effectively "open the door" for the community and how the community is communicated with to rebuild trust in accessing community nursing services in Lucindale.
"I see no reason why this could not be concluded by the end of the financial year, there is nothing so insurmountable in the concerns raised by the Lucindale community or the problems put forward by the LCHN where there can't be an acceptable solution with a small compromise if need be from both parties," Mr Ross said.
Riverland Mallee Coorong LHN chief executive officer Wayne Champion thanked the consumer advisory committee for their "constructive discussion" at last Thursday's meeting.
"Due to demand over the past few months, we have increased services at both sites, and we will be making improvements to make sure the community can continue to access care close to home," he said.
"This will include a fixed schedule of when specialist nursing and allied health services will be visiting the services, more information about making appointments and improved signage."
But Culburra farmer Brydee Martin says it is disappointing they were not able to secure guaranteed opening hours each week for the two health centres, including drop in appointments which were previously available.
They will continue to push for this at the next meeting in June.
"While we made some positive progress regarding simplifying LHN communication, including replacing the term 'self referrals' with 'appointments', I was disappointed that the RMCLHN does not seem to recognise the holistic benefits to our community of having a visible health service," she said.
"As there are many local residents restricted in their movement, I am concerned that by removing drop in appointments the RMCLHN are pushing the perceived risk of providing this service back onto our volunteer ambulance officers."
Member for Mackillop Nick McBride says it was "very disappointing", he was excluded from the meetings, especially Lucindale where he is a resident and local ratepayer.
From hearing feedback on the two meetings he has concerns that Tintinara and Coonalpyn may not have such a positive hearing as Lucindale but says both health networks need to be part of the solution not "adding to the problem".
"They shouldn't be rolling back their services or trying to close centres when it is already hard for people to see GPs due to the shortage of them across SA, they should be reinstating the services and adding more on top where they can," he said.
"Community health has always been about keeping people in their own homes and in their towns rather than ending up in a hospital bed away from the families.
"If people need greater medical expertise it can be sought. where a patient is seen that is very unwell the nurse can direct them to go straight to a hospital but if they are not there that patient isn't going to seek help until it becomes very serious."
