Media Release: Liberal Party's Barossa Hospital pledge lacks substance
The Australian Medical Association in South Australia (AMA SA) has responded to the Liberal Party’s $350 million pledge to build a new hospital in the Barossa Valley.
The following quotes can be attributed to AMA SA President Associate Professor Peter Subramaniam:
Increasing capacity in regions like the Barossa is an important initiative. Regional South Australians deserve access to high-quality care closer to home.
Bold announcements before elections are welcome. But without detail – particularly around workforce sourcing, sustainable funding and realistic timeframes – they remain just that: announcements. A political announcement without substance creates doubt about realistic implementation.
South Australians are experiencing system strain now. It is not yet clear how this proposal will translate into measurable reductions in ramping, emergency department overcrowding or elective surgery delays.
AMA SA has been consistent with our position that a hospital is not just a building. It requires doctors, nurses, allied health professionals and support staff – and many regional services are currently struggling to recruit and retain them.
We will continue to apply consistent, forensic scrutiny to all election commitments to ensure they are backed by credible workforce planning and deliver tangible relief to patients and clinicians across the state.
