About 400 people, or more than one fifth of Streaky Bay's population, turned up at a community meeting to discuss the future of the town's hospital on Friday.
Their main concern was what would happen when current GP Dr Rob Oswald retires and also what Health Minister John Hill's latest position on the Country Health Care Plan was.
Dr Oswald said the original plan was for patients not to stay any longer than one day at Streaky Bay.
"If we became a GP Plus Emergency Hospital, which means we have the ability to examine your child in emergency, treat in emergency and observe for 24 hours and then you have to go home or fly to Port Lincoln," he said.
Dr Oswald said this could mean three to four times more transfers than there currently are.
But he said this had changed during the week, with Mr Hill saying it would be "business as usual" in Streaky Bay.
"Minister Hill has said nothing will change at Streaky Bay in the short term but that doesn't mean the long term … the long term plan is we will lose any chance of surgery and obstetrics," Dr Oswald said.
"Minister Hill reasons regional hospitals are under-utilised."
Representing the Minister, Eyre Regional Health Service deputy CEO John Southern said he had been told about the plan five minutes before it was announced and since then had attended meetings in Tumby Bay and Cleve.
"You're not alone. You've got a lot of support out there and you've already seen changes," he said.
"There are PowerPoint presentations and there have already been changes … and that's from community input."
Dr Peter Rischbieth, the national president of the Rural Doctors Association and part of the country health taskforce, flew in from Murray Bridge via Adelaide for meeting.
He admitted he was confused about the latest stance on hospitals but said letting the Minister know what people felt was important.
"I think there is the opportunity that things will improve," he said.
Mr Southern said there would be more consultation when the taskforce visits.
"I would certainly hope that this time councils and the community and the GPs are consulted," he said.
Other concerns raised included the cost of transport to Port Lincoln, the impact on retirees in Streaky Bay, whether Port Lincoln's hospital could cope with more admissions and difficulty attracting volunteers to the SA Ambulance Service, which would need even more with an increase in transfers.
The Health Minister was invited to the meeting but was unable to come.
Liberal Federal Member for Grey Rowan Ramsey and State MP Graham Gunn attended the meeting, but local member Liz Penfold and Opposition health spokeswoman Vickie Chapman did not.