It will be very hard to attract a new doctor to Quorn unless acute care beds return to the its hospital, a retiring GP says.
The Flinders Ranges town lost its acute care beds when aged care residents were moved to the hospital during the pandemic.
Outgoing GP Tony Lian-Lloyd said it may be difficult to replace him if his clinic cannot be supported with acute care patients from the hospital.
"It's going to be very difficult to replace doctors in towns like this, and people who have practised like I have," he said.
Beds coming back, Minister says
Health Minister Stephen Wade said acute care beds could be back within weeks.
"Right across South Australia the pandemic has meant – particularly where sites are co-located with a hospital and nursing home facility – it has been necessary to close some facilities," he said.
"That was the case in Quorn.
"I'm advised that the facilities in Quorn will be restored in the coming weeks."
But Dr Lian-Lloyd was sceptical about that.
"I'm prepared to accept that acute care services will return," he said.
