The widow of Bob Such, the former parliamentary Speaker and independent Liberal who passed away last October after battling a brain tumour, has hit out at Government plans to close the Daw Park Hospice where he spent his final days.

Most of the Repatriation General Hospital’s services will be relocated under mooted Transforming Health reforms, with the palliative care currently provided at the Hospice to be shifted to Noarlunga Hospital.

Dr Such died at the southern suburbs Hospice seven months after being diagnosed with brain cancer. That diagnosis came just days after he and fellow independent Geoff Brock gained the balance of power in a hung parliament after the tightly fought 2014 state election.

Such’s widow, Lyn, today lashed out at the planned closure, which she described as “appalling”.

“It’s so short-sighted,” she told ABC Radio.

“A hospice is a house to look after the terminally ill … That hospice, I think, is the last hospice set up like that in the country – it’s gold-plated and I just don’t think people realise where it’s going.”

She said the historic amenity would instead be moved to “a multi-storey hospital, a sterile, terrible environment”.

But Health Minister Jack Snelling countered with an anecdote about visiting Daw House and explaining the changes to one patient who was pleased because he “lived down south and that was going to be closer” to him.

“It’s an old building and I think you need to give consideration to that,” he said.

Opposition Health spokesman Stephen Wade said the Liberals had a longstanding commitment to oppose the closure of any hospital or emergency department.

“We regard the Hospice as a part of the Repat Hospital, and support the Hospice being retained at the Repat site,” he said.

Lyn Such has played an active role in public life in recent months, endorsing and campaigning on behalf of independent candidate Daniel Woodyatt in the recent Fisher by-election. Woodyatt ran third in primary votes but came close to snaring victory on preferences.