The Hon Mark Butler MP
Minister for Health and Aged Care
The Albanese Government will partner with the South Australian Malinauskas Government to deliver $400 million for a once-in-a-generation upgrade to the Flinders Medical Centre.
This major project will deliver 160 beds for the south of Adelaide, including 136 extra beds at Flinders Medical Centre and 24 additional beds at the Repat.
The additional beds will increase the hospital's capacity and reduce delays through ambulance ramping or patients waiting in the emergency department.
Most of the beds will be single rooms to improve patient privacy and infection control. Two-thirds of the beds will be overnight beds and the remaining will be same day beds to meet the needs of more patients.
The funding will:
- deliver a major upgrade and expansion of the Margaret Tobin Centre for mental health
- upgrade outdated wards
- increase the capacity of the Intensive Care Unit
- build additional operating theatres
- increase capacity for emergency and elective surgery
- upgrade and expand medical imaging services
- provide a new eye surgery clinic; and
- establish a new 24 bed older person's unit at the Repat as a hub for older person's health and wellbeing.
The full upgrade plan is expected to be completed by 2028, with a staged development to deal with the site infrastructure challenges and the need to progressively increase bed availability.
Quotes attributable to Premier Malinauskas:
"South Australians know how determined I am to deliver on our significant healthcare promises.
"This is the partnership we need to reduce ramping and ensure Flinders is well-equipped to deliver high quality care. And it will dramatically reduce pressure on the overall hospital network.
"This represents the first major stage of a generational investment needed to replace the ageing infrastructure at Flinders Medical Centre."
Quotes attributable to Minister Butler:
"The Government is delivering on our election commitment to expand and upgrade the Flinders Medical Centre.
"This will upgrade and replace ageing infrastructure and reduce pressure on the overall hospital network.
"Most importantly it will give people in southern Adelaide the medical care they deserve."
Quotes attributable to Minister Picton:
"We are proud to be working with the Albanese Government to deliver this once-in-a-generation hospital expansion.
Our partnership will deliver extra beds, increase capacity and boost healthcare services in South Australia.
Labor is delivering on its election commitments to ensure frontline staff are well-equipped to provide high-quality care."
