YANKALILLA - The after hours service at the Southern Fleurieu Family Practice at Yankalilla is under threat after a lack of support from the state government.

This is according to practice manager Gary Madigan, who said without necessary funding, the practice will struggle to sustain its service.

The Southern Fleurieu Family Practice currently runs a 24 hour facility, including in-clinic appointments and an on-call service.

"There are two issues which primarily affect the after hours service. We have five doctors prepared to work after hours, with two in their late 60's," said Mr Madigan.

Doctors who have nominated to work after hours spend one night a week and one weekend in five on-call, on top of the general workload.

With a number of the clinic's doctors looking to retire in the near future, Mr Madigan said the practice is hoping to attract new doctors to the region and into the after hours service.

"We are on the march for more doctors in rural settings. To do that, we need to make it (the role) look more attractive," he said.

Adding to the inevitable loss of valuable doctors, the Commonwealth funding currently supporting the after hours facility will end in November.

To aid in continuation of the service past November, the Southern Fleurieu Family Practice has requested funding from the state government.

However, no response has been given.

"There will be a serious review with the after hours service after November. The state government's support has been a bit slow," said Mr Madigan.

Member for Finniss Mr Michael Pengilly said he is aware that the practice needs government support to maintain a sustainable after hours service to the community.

"The state government needs to support the practice for not only does it serve the Southern Fleurieu region but the tens of thousands of people who visit this region, some of whom invariably need prompt medical attention for a variety of problems," he said.

"Ongoing discussions between the Rural Doctors Association and the health department has seen no agreement. We're pushing for an agreement."

Mr Pengilly said he intends to write the Minister for Health John Hill, to alert him to the situation.