An Albanese Federal Labor Government will partner with the Malinauskas State Labor Government to deliver a major expansion of Flinders Medical Centre and upgrades for the Repat.
This equal partnership will deliver a once-in-a-generation $400 million expansion of Flinders Medical Centre, delivering 160 extra beds for the south of Adelaide: 136 extra beds at Flinders Medical Centre and a further 24 beds at the Repat.
Through major expansions of the western and southern wings of the hospital, this investment will tackle ramping and reduce bed block by providing the space for patients to move out of the emergency department.
Key elements of the plan will include:
- Over 136 extra beds at Flinders Medical Centre: These additional beds will substantially increase the hospital’s capacity, meaning fewer patients will be stuck on the ramp or in the emergency department. Key features of the upgrade include:
- The majority of the new beds will be single rooms – improving patient privacy and infection control – preventing the spread of existing disease such as COVID-19 and flu and preparing for the future.
- Approximately two thirds of the additional beds will be overnight beds, with one third same-day beds, both of which are essential for increasing capacity at the hospital and meeting the needs of more patients.
- A major upgrade and expansion of the Margaret Tobin Centre for mental health. This will increase both mental health intensive care and general ward beds. Mental health access block is a leading cause of ramping.
- The project will also upgrade outdated wards.
- An expanded Intensive Care Unit: increasing the capacity of the Intensive Care Unit, which has been under sustained pressure.
- New modern operating theatres: building additional operating theatres as part of the redevelopment, increasing the capacity for emergency and elective surgery.
- Expanded medical imaging: upgrading and expanding medical imaging services and bringing angiography services in-house – resulting in improved access to scans for Flinders patients.
- A brand-new eye surgery clinic: Providing high-quality and faster ophthalmology surgery and services such as cataract removal.
- Upgraded care for older people: Establishing a new 24-bed older person’s unit at the Repat as a hub for older person’s health and wellbeing, creating critical extra beds that will help while the redevelopment of Flinders Medical Centre takes place.
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. Detailed planning works will commence in partnership between Federal and State governments immediately following the election of a Federal Labor Government.
This investment is part of Labor’s plans to improve health care for South Australians, which also includes:
- 24/7 nurses in aged care – which will help take pressure off emergency departments.
- Investing $77 million in the Bragg Comprehensive Cancer Centre in South Australia, continuing Labor’s long history of supporting SAHMRI.
- Delivering a new mental health and wellbeing centre in Bedford Park, with a $12.6 million investment that will provide children up to 12 years of age, their parents and carers with high-quality, multidisciplinary mental health and early intervention services.
- Investing $13.7 million in better and expanded access to vital suicide prevention services in Adelaide.
Comments attributable to Anthony Albanese, Federal Labor Leader:
“Over a decade in office, Scott Morrison has failed to invest in the future of Flinders Medical Centre or help South Australia fix its unprecedented ramping crisis.
“I want to partner with Peter Malinauskas to give people in southern Adelaide the medical care they deserve.
“It’s a choice between more of the same, or a better future.”
Comments attributable to Peter Malinauskas, SA Premier:
“South Australians know how determined I am to fix the ramping crisis.
“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.”
