Photo Credit: Grant Schwartzkopff
Due to the recent flooding that has stricken the Murray River, local officials in the Riverland have been forced to take action, so much so that the Paringa District Hospital will now be relocated.
Statement from Riverland Mallee Coorong Local Health Network (LHN) CEO, Wayne Champion:
SA Health has been closely monitoring the flood situation in the Murray River with respect to the Renmark Paringa District Hospital and we are now at the stage where we will enact the first phase of our relocation plan.
This facility is home to 81 aged care residents who have various levels of need. Over the past 24 hours the height of the river has reached the level which SA Health pre-determined would require planned gradual relocation of the most vulnerable residents. These 21 residents are not independently mobile and require the highest level of care and it is important that time is given to ensure relocation is done in a careful, controlled, and safe manner.
All 21 families have been contacted this morning.
The extensive reinforcement work on the Renmark levee gives us the opportunity to gradually relocate these residents as a precautionary measure, which will commence on Tuesday. All relocated aged care residents will be accommodated in other Riverland Mallee Coorong LHN-operated facilities and their families have been closely involved in these plans. Part of the consideration of relocating at this early stage is that the process will not impact SA Health acute services, over a three to five day period.
Riverland Mallee Coorong LHN has a high level confidence in the work the Renmark Paringa District Council has completed in strengthening the Hospital levee. However, we have a number of vulnerable aged care residents who are mobility impaired in the Renmark Paringa District Hospital’s aged care facility, who would be difficult to evacuate quickly, with a staged relocation the much preferred option.
