Photo credit: Grant Schwartzkopff
SA Health released a statement regarding Renmark Paringa District Hospital this morning. The below message has been provided by the Riverland Mallee Coorong Local Health Network (LHN) CEO, Wayne Champion.
Please see below:
SA Health continues to monitor the flood water levels and anticipated peak flows.
We have now reached a point where we need to action phase two of our relocation plan.
In planning, we have sought advice from the Department of Environment and Water regarding the anticipated peak flood level at the Hospital Levee.
Two of the aged care buildings and the main hospital building at Renmark Paringa District Hospital are situated on higher ground than the rest of our aged care buildings. Pleasingly, these buildings are located above the anticipated peak water height.
It is possible to safely accommodate all of the remaining aged care residents and three of the remaining hospital patients in these buildings, ensuring that the residents are above the river water level.
Families of 30 residents who are located in other parts of the aged care facility were contacted last night and have been offered a choice of either a room change within the hospital facility or relocation to a different aged care facility. Alternatively, some families may wish to have their loved one at home over the Christmas period, in which case we will support them with additional community-based home support services.
Initial conversations indicate the majority of families would prefer for their family member to remain on-site, where they will continue to receive care from the same team, be with other aged care residents and access their usual recreational activities.
This internal stage two relocation, will proceed from Monday 12 December. As previously, it will be conducted in a very calm, orderly and supportive manner.
SA Health has complete confidence in the work that the Renmark Paringa District Council has undertaken to strengthen the Hospital Levee. We are relying on it to protect the facility so that our aged care residents can relocate back into their normal homes when flooding has subsided.
We are conducting the resident relocation out of an abundance of caution, to protect the health and wellbeing of our vulnerable aged care residents, who could easily slip or fall and therefore be subject to undue risk in the very unlikely event of a levee failure.
We will continue monitoring the water levels and will inform staff, residents, families and carers of any further requirements to change accommodation arrangements.
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