Tintinara medical service to be improved in 2027
By FlowFM press team
Tintinara, one hour south of Murray Bridge on the Dukes Highway toward Melbourne, has a purpose-built medical centre just like many small towns. However, due to severe staff shortages, it has not had an occupant and today sits largely vacant despite the attached SA Ambulance facility.
The Coorong Council and the Local Health Network (LHN) have been in communication to try and find solutions to the lack of doctor and nursing services. The LHN has maintained a community nursing service which is much reduced.
A local physiotherapist is seeking to relocate to the building before Christmas for at least three days a week. This is likely to be augmented by a visiting nurse-led service initially for one day per week which would enable blood tests and pathology to be arranged locally.
This will be a satellite service from the Keith doctor and health service and is likely to be expanded. This will assist elderly and incapacitated patients to get pathology nearby home rather than taking the hour return trip to Keith.
Coorong Council Acting Mayor Jonathan Pietzsch told Flow News the Wendt Terrace Medical Centre has also seen the return of midwifery appointments in the last year after community lobbying, and rental agreements are being considered with agencies for provision of the multi-health approach service using the facility.
The medical centre has been the subject of local community concern over its lack of use and the lack of medical services despite having the building readily available. There was also discussion as to why the facility had new car parking and accessible line marking added this year when the building was rarely used.
Councillor Pietzsch said that while the car park works had been started earlier than anticipated, the establishment of parking that meets current WHS and accessibility needs places the Medical Centre as a ready-to-operate location for expanding medical services.
Mr Pietzsch added that the Coorong Council would welcome any qualified doctor to establish a medical practice at Tintinara, and the Coorong Council would be open to any commercial property agreement to facilitate better medical services for Tintinara and other Coorong Council towns.
Comments