$24 million Mount Gambier hospital upgrade delivered

The Mount Gambier and Districts Health Service has received its most significant upgrade since 2018, complete with expanded mental health and cancer services, and the state’s first-ever regional drug and alcohol withdrawal inpatient beds.

Major works are now complete on the Government of South Australia's $24 million project, delivering our election commitment to the Limestone Coast to develop:

• A new six-bed Mental Health Service, which doubles the hospital’s previous number of mental health beds to 12.
• Two new Drug and Alcohol withdrawal inpatient beds for people requiring 24/7, medically managed drug and alcohol withdrawal – the first-ever publicly funded drug and alcohol withdrawal inpatient beds in regional South Australia.
• A six-bed Emergency Department (ED) Short Stay Unit, which was delivered in September, for patients who are clinically stable and expected to be safely discharged within 24 hours.

On top of these new services, the Albanese Labor Government has invested $4.3 million into a new dedicated Cancer Care Centre, featuring five consulting rooms, a group therapy space and amenities to enable patients to access cancer treatment consultations closer to home.

The new drug and alcohol beds are due to open for patients from next month, while the new mental health beds and Cancer Care Centre will open to patients from early 2026.

The Mental Health Service ‘Wari-ngu’ doubles the number of mental health beds previously available at the hospital and includes a lounge room, open-plan kitchen and dining area, dedicated activity area to support patient recovery, and an outdoor area with a yarning space to provide a culturally safe area for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

This dedicated mental health recovery centre has been designed to provide recovery-focused education and help build patients’ skills to support them in their journey to recovery.

The name ‘Wari-ngu’ means ‘Good Path’, and was chosen for Mount Gambier’s new Mental Health Service in consultation with the Bunganditj Language Revival Committee.

The new Drug and Alcohol withdrawal inpatient beds are safe and quiet spaces for patients requiring medically managed drug and alcohol withdrawal, featuring two inpatient beds, a shared living space, courtyard, kitchenette, and 24/7 nursing and medical team to aid them on their road to recovery.

Developed in consultation with the Drug and Alcohol Service of South Australia, Uniting Communities, and Substance Misuse Limestone Coast, as well as people with lived experience of substance dependence, the Unit will ensure Limestone Coast residents seeking support for alcohol and other drug withdrawal can access safe, medically supervised care closer to home.

The establishment of this service at Mount Gambier Hospital follows the Government of South Australia's previous investment to double residential rehabilitation beds in Mount Gambier from six to 12 beds. This will enable Limestone Coast residents to access alcohol and drug rehabilitation services from withdrawal through to residential rehabilitation locally.

Cancer care services will also be improved on the Limestone Coast, thanks to the new Cancer Care Centre, which includes five consulting rooms for visiting specialists to provide in-person and telehealth consultations, a group therapy space, multi-disciplinary workroom for up to eight clinical staff at any one time, lobby and waiting room, new reception, staff area, quiet room and other amenities to aid patients with their cancer treatment.

Project works were managed by Mossop Construction + Interiors, which began construction last year.

In another boost for health services on the Limestone Coast, the Mount Gambier Ambulance Station is being upgraded, with works on track to be completed next month. As part of this upgrade, the station’s garage is being extended to house and service additional ambulances, while improvements are being delivered to its locker, storage and car parking areas.

It follows last year’s delivery of a 2022 election commitment to recruit 12 new career paramedics and six new Regional Medical Transfer Service staff, as part of the Government of South Australia's promise to recruit 350 new ambos before the next election – which remains on track to be achieved by the end of the year.