A new eight-bed Emergency Extended Care Unit (EECU) has opened as part of an expansion of the Emergency Department at Modbury Hospital aimed at easing pressure on our busy metropolitan hospitals.
Minister for Health and Wellbeing Stephen Wade said the eight beds are part of an almost $100 million commitment to redevelop and modernise Modbury Hospital.
"The northern suburbs have the highest population growth in South Australia - with a quarter of the State's population expected to live here by 2026," Minister Wade said.
"It is fantastic to see this first stage of the redevelopment completed and opened so that more patients can receive their treatment locally.
"The clinicians and staff at Modbury Hospital deliver world-class care and this redevelopment is about making sure they have the world-class facilities to match.
"We are investing in our clinicians, services and infrastructure to better support the health and wellbeing of all South Australians.
"In the last two years, the number of presentations to the Modbury Hospital ED has increased by 16.7 per cent - more than double the rate of increase at any other metropolitan ED.
"As part of its Transforming Health disaster, Labor downgraded the Modbury Hospital and expected the people of the North-Eastern suburbs to travel further for emergency care.
"The Marshall Liberal Government is turning that around to deliver more care closer to home.
Minister Wade said it was an exciting time for Modbury Hospital and the Northern Adelaide Local Health Network (NALHN) as a whole.
"The new EECU will alleviate inpatient bed blockage by allowing patients to be assessed and treated for up to 24 hours in a new clinical unit next to the ED," Minister Wade said.
"This will reduce the need for transfers to the Lyell McEwin Hospital, improve patient flow, and ensure people in the northern suburbs can get the treatment they need, closer to home.
"Besides the new Rehabilitation Centre and ED extension, the rest of Modbury Hospital is nearing 50 years old."
The Modbury Hospital redevelopment will also include a new 20-bed Palliative Care Unit, a new Short Stay General Medical Unit and a four-bed High Dependency Unit.
"It is great to see this stage of redevelopment complete, ahead of upgrading the façade of the hospital, and refurbishing the kiosk and Outpatient Department to modernise and improve facilities for both patients and staff."
NALHN Chief Executive Officer, Ms Maree Geraghty, said we provide services to over 400,000 residents in the northern metropolitan area of Adelaide as well as regional South Australians.
"We have a proud and strong tradition of providing excellent clinical care and we're dedicated to delivering the highest quality teaching, research and community services," Ms Geraghty said.
"We thank our staff and consumers for their patience during the redevelopment and we welcome their feedback anytime."
