This could also mean less services for Ceduna and other towns, because professionals attracted to Streaky Bay's lifestyle could move out of the region if the hospital's services are reduced.

Streaky Bay Hospital Local Advisory Committee chairperson Josie Williams said the bar was raised again and again to make it more difficult for the hospital to provide more complicated services.

"My fear is these people have trained for so long in their profession and to me it looks like a deliberate ploy to squeeze them out of being able to use their skills so the government has them where they want them (in larger towns)," she said.

Streaky Bay GP Dr Rob Oswald said higher standards came in ostensibly to get "better health services" but it meant doctors could use less of their skills.

"That's been the case for some years now," he said.

"For example, with obstetrics we were unable to do it because there was no anaesthetist at Ceduna. I've been doing it for 30 years with no anaesthetist nearby.

"They said they had to be within an hour. They now say it needs to be half an hour."

Recently, a student doctor training with Dr Oswald was able to help a mother give birth to a baby at the Streaky Bay Hospital. Dr Oswald said that if this was not possible in the future, it could be even harder to attract new doctors, especially important considering he is almost 60 and ready to retire.

"If it was downgraded we would lose our obstetrics and our theatre," he said.

"There wouldn't be the same sort of training opportunities for students as there are now and it takes the interest out of medicine.

"Attracting a new doctor after I go would be much more difficult because they won't be able to do all the things they've trained for."

Under the Country Health Plan, Streaky Bay Hospital will be known as a GP Plus Emergency Hospital but will continue to undertake birthing and surgery over the next 10 years, subject to workforce and safety and quality compliance, and will continue to offer medical acute admissions.

Mrs Williams said Streaky Bay had a growing population of more than 2000, with at least double that amount in the summer school holidays. "We are a growth town here - one of the few small towns to have a growing population with a large tourism component as well," she said.

"The social and regional impact needs to be addressed if these changes occur and I realise they are watered down to what was put out in the first place and (Health) Minister (John) Hill was invited to attend but was unable to come and says nothing is going to change. My point is if nothing is going to change why change our name from a community hospital to a GP Plus Emergency Hospital, and an acute bed to an observation bed, and all that implies.

"Our community hospital will now be Ceduna, and as the Ceduna doctor said on radio last week Ceduna has enough of a problem looking after their own community."

Mrs Williams said it was important for the Streaky Bay and wider area to show their support for the hospital at the public meeting to be held at the Streaky Bay Town Hall tomorrow (Friday) from 8pm.

"That is why we need a public meeting - to have these concerns actually come from the communities these changes are going to affect, and to let them be informed as well," she said.

"We need to have a voice from our areas, as well as those from many areas who are often only 30 minutes from each other and are certainly having an effect on Minister Hill's plan ... Dr Peter Rischbeith from the Rural Doctors Association will address the meeting and John Southern, our acting regional CEO, plus others will be present.

"Don't be complacent, it is our hospital and has been well supported over many years and until we have a need to use it we do not realise how important it is to our country towns."

Streaky Bay mayor Ian Gunn also encouraged people to come to the meeting.

"We're a growing community and it's essential for our community," he said.

"People have worked hard for it over the years … and Ceduna's not next door and Ceduna has it's own problems recruiting doctors."

Country Health SA CEO George Beltchev said any concern doctors' roles will dramatically change at Streaky Bay Hospital was unfounded.

"Streaky Bay doctors will be required to perform the same role, maintaining the same health services that they do now. Nothing will change and no hospital jobs will be lost. Minister Hill confirmed this on 1 July in declaring the Streaky Bay Hospital will maintain medical acute admissions," he said.

"There will be more health services in Streaky Bay - such as enhanced primary health care services - as a result of the Country Health Care Plan.

"To ensure the sustainability of all of the hospital's current health services we will also work with the hospital and community to plan for any future workforce shortages or safety and quality compliance issues over the ten years of the Country Health Care Plan."

Mr Beltchev said the $36 million to be spent at Ceduna Hospital would not vary bed numbers but this could be reassessed.