The South Australian Government has revealed more details on the Modbury Hospital upgrade, which aims to improve health services in the north-east and ease pressure on local emergency departments.
In unveiling designs of the major upgrade, Minister for Health and Wellbeing, Stephen Wade, said the work on the first phase of the long-awaited $96 million project (which involves upgrading the façade to make it safe and bring it to modern standards) will begin in February to deliver better patient care closer to home for the residents in the north and north-east.
“The expansion will ease pressure on busy emergency departments and modernise the aged facility, increasing capabilities and improving facilities for patients and staff.”
Minister Wade further commented that the project’s innovative designs and relocation plans will enhance clinical collaboration between departments across Modbury hospital and will likely hold positive flow-on effects across the Northern Adelaide Local Health Network (NALHN).
NALHN Chief Executive Officer, Maree Geraghty, also said more patients would be able to have surgery and recover closer to home with the total redevelopment of the surgical floor.
“The expansion of the surgical floor includes four theatres, a purpose-built surgical suite and additional procedure rooms, giving us capacity we haven’t had before,” Ms Geraghty explained.
“Eight additional beds will be created in a new Emergency Extended Care Unit (EECU) to be built adjacent to the ED, allowing patients who don’t need admission to be assessed and treated for up to 24 hours.”
“The EECU will be co-located with a 26-bed Short Stay General Medical Unit for patients who need care longer than 24 hours, but less than 72 hours, reducing the number of transfers to the Lyell McEwin Hospital,” she commented.
Major highlights of the redevelopment include:
- Expansion of the surgical floor to allow for more surgeries.
- Development of a four-bed High Dependency Unit.
- Eight additional beds created in an Extended Emergency Care Unit.
- Co-locating the EECU with an upgraded 26 bed Short Stay General Medical Unit.
- A new purpose-built 20-bed Palliative Care Unit to ensure patients are cared for in a suitable environment.
- Relocating the Outpatients Department to allow more streamlined access in a more efficient location.
- Updating the façade to modern standards.
The entire project will be completed in phases and is due for completion in 2021.