“We are willing to consider any proposal for Keith hospital to reinstate its funding on its merits,” he said.

“If there is a way to reverse Labor’s cuts to Keith, we will be looking to follow it.”

He made the comments while on a fact-finding mission to hospitals around the region, including those at Murray Bridge, Tailem Bend and Meningie.

He said his experiences on the tour would shape the Opposition’s policy on regional health services in the lead-up to the next State election.

In particular, Mr Hamilton-Smith intended to investigate concerns about staff shortages and inadequate facilities and hoped to improve the relationship between the State Government and local communities.

“Since the local hospital boards were abolished, I have sensed a disconnect between hospital services and the local community,” he said.

“If we were in government, I would want to revise that.

“Country hospitals are doing more than providing a service - they are the pulsing heart in the community.

“We really support Mount Gambier, Whyalla, Port Lincoln and Berri, but we want to see support remain for those smaller hospitals.

“The more people can keep out of Murray Bridge the better, and the more people from Murray Bridge can keep out of Adelaide the better.”

Mr Hamilton-Smith thanked staff at the Coorong Health Service in Tailem Bend for carrying out important work for their community.

He also asked about the services they provided, the facilities available, how they dealt with emergencies, how they were rostered and about the hospital’s budget and its relationship with the local council.

Earlier last week, Health Minister John Hill called for Mr Hamilton-Smith to release details of the Opposition’s policy.

“The public has the right to know what plans the alternative government has,” he said.

“It is about time the Liberals had something positive to say.”

He countered Opposition criticism by pointing out that “not one country hospital has closed under the Labor Government”.