A Friend of Hammill House and volunteer for more than 14 years, Lyn Price, had sent many letters to the State Government seeking action, then later demanding the upgrade of the aged care centre be finished.

Last week, she fronted Country Health SA executive officer George Beltchev in Port Pirie with all her questions in hand and was not disappointed with the response.

She said Mr Beltchev had “guaranteed” that Hammill House would not be closed and the matter of the upgrade was in the final stages. “We have been pushing this issue for years and to finally get some answers for the residents is fantastic,” she said.

“It will probably be a while before it gets started, but if it comes to a standstill then I have an open line to George to find out what is happening.”

She said that Hammill House’s fire safety would be upgraded, starting on July 1, but the health department did not confirm this.

Arthur Green’s wife was a resident of Hammill House and he hopes that one day he will live there if he needs to.

He has been fighting the same

battle for many years and is sceptical that the upgrade will be finished.

“I am just waiting until I see how much it is all going ahead,” he said. “Why should we have to kick up a storm to get it going when they knew it was there?”

“You can understand I am cynical.”

The upgrade would have each person or couple in a single or double room with an en suite. Now some residents are in four and six-bed rooms with the bathroom across the hall.

Last week Mr Beltchev said Country Health SA was working towards a long-term plan for Hammill House which would guarantee the service and ensure it meets Commonwealth aged care standards.

“I would like to reassure people who receive care at Hammill House that they will continue to receive high standards of care,” he said.