Construction will begin next month on a 48-bed expansion at Lyell McEwin Hospital, doubling the Malinauskas Labor Government's original 24-bed election commitment.
The contract for the $47 million expansion is with construction company 'Built' to deliver two 24-bed inpatient wards on Level 3 in Building A, that was originally constructed as a "cold shell" in 2013 to accommodate future expansion.
The expansion will deliver 48 single rooms with ensuites, including rooms with speciality care features, improving patient comfort and wellbeing for people who require a higher level of support.
It will also include a range of other utility and support spaces, such as sterile and cleaning storage areas, and staff facilities to accommodate amenities and offices.
The construction works will be staged to minimise disruption and allow the hospital to continue to safety operate, with the works due to be completed in 2024.
Built have been working with SA Health currently delivering the new Mount Barker Emergency Department.
This comes as the redevelopment of the hospital's emergency department, first announced and funded under the former Labor Government, is expected to be operational within weeks.
This phase of construction has been increasing the emergency department from its current 53 spaces to a total of 64 spaces.
The Malinauskas Labor Government is now also investing a further $4.5 million expansion to increase the final phase of the ED expansion by an additional four beds, from the originally planned 72 to now deliver 76 by the end of this year.
In addition, for residents in the northern suburbs undergoing dialysis treatment, a temporary $1.2 million renal ward has opened in a refurbished area adjacent to the hospital to create extra capacity.
The new 9 chair dialysis unit will allow for up to 36 haemodialysis patients living in the northern suburbs to receive their dialysis care closer to home and supports the existing 12 dialysis chairs already established within the hospital.
The Government has also launched the process to compulsorily acquire land at Lot 471 Oldham Road, next to the existing site. The council-owned vacant site has been identified as a critical piece of land to enable future expansion.
Quotes
Attributable to Chris Picton
These infrastructure projects are critical in meeting the increasing demand generated by population growth in the northern suburbs.
We have seized the opportunity to now increase the size of the ED even further to make sure it has the capacity for the long term.
But importantly we also need the beds behind the ED – and that's why work starting shortly on the 48 new bed expansion is such an important part of our plan.
These measures are responding to immediate demand while also delivering infrastructure that meets the long term needs of the community.
In addition, more land at the hospital site will be critical for future expansion opportunities at this critical site for the health system.
Attributable to NALHN CEO Maree Geraghty
This expansion is welcome news for our staff and the people who we care for, and it will ensure our services grow to meet the health needs of our community.
