South Australia's largest regional hospital was placed under a code white rating for three days last week, in what is understood to be a first for the facility.
The code was activated from Wednesday to Friday at Mount Gambier.
A Limestone Coast Local Health Network spokesperson said the three-day Code White was enacted due to an increased number of "furloughed" staff due to COVID-19.
"This decision was not enacted in response to increased inpatient activity or ED capacity at Mount Gambier Hospital, and no patients were ramped at the ED or diverted to another health facility," a spokesperson said.
"The emergency department continued to operate and staff were available to assess patients and manage beds accordingly.
"We continue to actively recruit positions to further strengthen our medical workforce within the Limestone Coast LHN and our staff are able to continue to provide care to patients according to their clinical needs."
Mount Gambier Hospital officials say there has been no ambulance ramping at the facility over the past week.
Hospital battles with staff shortages
SA Salaried Medical Officers Association chief industrial officer Bernadette Mulholland claimed there was a "significant shortage" of full-time equivalent (FTE) staff at the Mount Gambier hospital.
"We have heard from our medical officers at the Mount Gambier hospital that there are up to 60 FTE positions that aren't filled at the present time," she said.
"The reason for that is unknown.
"We already knew that there were significant medical workforce shortages out there.
"We already knew that there were some issues around the environment that's out there and that doctors have not decided to remain at that particular hospital.
Ms Mulholland said a solution needed to be found quickly.
"If it's not addressed quickly and swiftly, that becomes the new norm of the hospital system," she said.
"We really need those country hospitals to be flowing and to be working efficiently."
Ms Mulholland said a code white also meant longer waiting times for the community.
"Patients who are attending [the ED] will be categorised, and the lower the category, probably the longer waiting time that the patients and the community will experience," she said.
"It may also mean that there's a possibility that those who really do need urgent care may be transported to the city to receive that care, and then that impacts on metropolitan hospitals."
Flow-on effect of code white
The SA Ambulance Employees Association state councillor representing the Limestone Coast, Andrew Shouksmith, said "three days of code white is unprecedented".
"This is what leads directly to ramping," he said.
"If you have no beds, no capacity, [then] you haven't got the ability to bring patients from the ambulance into the emergency department."
Mr Shouksmith said having EDs at maximum capacity led to a "compounding effect".
"The patient being looked after by the paramedics in the ambulance is not able to progress into the hospital," he said.
"Anything that impedes that process through the emergency department is going to impact on the ambulance service and will obviously impact on the community."
Isolation reduction 'double-edged sword'
Mr Shouksmith said reduced isolation requirements for COVID-19 close contacts would ease staffing pressures.
"It is a double-edged sword.
"Certainly if we have staff members who are affected, they can come back into the workforce much more quickly but we've still got COVID out there."
Minister blames COVID staff shortages
Health Minister Chris Picton said the Mount Gambier hospital was "impacted by staffing shortages due to COVID".
"I have asked the Limestone Coast Local Health Network for a report on the impact on their health services and patients and how they are working to manage this," Mr Picton said in a statement.
"Demand on emergency services at the hospital has increased over recent years and that's why we will invest $24 million in a redevelopment of the hospital including an upgraded ED."
SA Health said the community had "an important role to play in easing the demand on hospitals during peak periods".
"We want the community to be aware of alternative options if their medical condition is not serious enough to require emergency medical care.
"For minor illness or injury, people are encouraged to visit their local GP, pharmacist, after-hours GP clinic, or virtual care service.
"Of course, anyone who is seriously ill with a medical emergency or life-threatening situation should always call triple-0 or present at an ED as soon as possible."
