By LES PEARSON

IT’S a case of the patients becoming impatient at the Riverland Regional Hospital, with the facility’s hydrotherapy pool still closed off and pending repairs after well over 12 months.

Patients requiring hydrotherapy treatment as part of their rehabilitation have had to find other means of doing so elsewhere in the region, something that has frustrated Loxton man Geoff Haddon.

Mr Haddon had both hips replaced last year and was consulting physiotherapists in Berri but had to go elsewhere to carry out hydrotherapy treatment recommended by them.

There are other private physiotherapists in the region with hydrotherapy pools but the cost is a major deterrent for most senior patients.

“The physios at the hospital are excellent,” Mr Haddon said.

“But for people on the pension, Community Health is their only real option and so many of them need that therapy.”

Mr Haddon did manage to find other pools to carry out his treatment and found it extremely beneficial.

“It’s definitely a better rehabilitation treatment,” he said.

“I went as often as I could.”

He believes the pool is important not only for patients recommended for the treatment but also for the physiotherapists, to ensure their patients have access to the necessary rehabilitation facilities.

In a statement issued to the Riverland Weekly by Country Health SA, a spokesperson expressed sympathy for patients unable to access the pool at Berri.

“Country Health SA is disappointed that the hydrotherapy pool has been unavailable for patient use,” the statement said.

“Unfortunately, to date we have been unable to engage an appropriately qualified fibre glass technician to undertake the necessary specialist leakage and pipe repair work.

“Country Health SA will continue to investigate alternative options for fixing the pool.”

The organisation also denied waiting on Berri Barmera Council’s plans for a recreation centre to be built in Berri before repairing the hydrotherapy pool.

“Country Health SA advises that any local council plans to build a recreation centre have no bearing on works to repair the hydrotherapy pool at Berri,” the statement read.

“Unlike general purpose swimming pools, hydrotherapy pools are special purpose pools used for rehabilitation and physical therapy and which require specialised maintenance.”