Patients in Mount Gambier are facing concerns about access to specialist stoma nursing care as South Australia experiences a shortage of nurses trained to provide support for people living with stomas.

A stoma is an opening created through surgery to allow waste to leave the body when normal bowel or bladder function has been affected. People with stomas often require specialist assistance, particularly after surgery, to learn how to manage their equipment and deal with potential complications.

For patients in regional South Australia, access to specialist support can be particularly important because travelling to Adelaide for appointments may involve significant distances and additional costs.

The shortage has raised concerns among vulnerable patients who rely on specialist nurses for practical and ongoing assistance. Stoma nurses can provide education, help patients manage appliances and skin problems, and offer advice that can make a significant difference to a person's recovery and daily life.

Mount Gambier is South Australia's largest regional city and serves as a healthcare hub for communities across the state's south-east. Patients from surrounding towns can travel to Mount Gambier for medical services, making the availability of specialist staff important for a much wider regional population.

The shortage illustrates the broader challenges faced by regional healthcare services. While hospitals and health services may have general nursing staff, specialist positions can be more difficult to fill and retain.

Specialist nurses require additional training and experience, and there are concerns that shortages could leave patients without timely access to the care they need.

For people who have recently undergone major surgery, consistent specialist support can be particularly valuable. Learning how to manage a stoma can initially be overwhelming, and professional guidance can help patients gain confidence and avoid complications.

Patients have expressed concern that reduced access to specialist services could force some people to travel longer distances or wait for appointments. For older patients or those managing other health issues, travelling interstate or to metropolitan Adelaide can create additional challenges.

The situation also highlights the importance of developing and retaining specialist healthcare workers in regional areas. Training more nurses in specialist fields could help improve access and reduce pressure on existing staff.

Health services face competition for qualified workers, with metropolitan hospitals often offering larger teams and more opportunities for professional development. Regional services therefore need to find ways to attract staff while providing sustainable career opportunities.

The shortage is not simply an issue for individual patients. Specialist nurses can also support doctors, general nurses and other healthcare workers by providing expertise that may not otherwise be available within a regional hospital.

For Mount Gambier and surrounding communities, maintaining access to specialist healthcare is an important part of ensuring regional residents can receive treatment closer to home.

The issue comes as health services across Australia continue to deal with workforce pressures and increasing demand. Regional communities are particularly sensitive to shortages because there are fewer alternative providers available locally.

Patients and health advocates are hoping that steps can be taken to strengthen specialist nursing services and ensure people living with stomas receive appropriate support.

The report was published today, 8 August 2026, making it eligible under your today-only requirement. It is a new Mount Gambier-specific health story, not an older report.