Ten new beds will open at the Repat Health Precinct tomorrow as the Marshall Liberal Government continues to reactivate the site that was controversially closed by the former Labor Government.
Minister for Health and Wellbeing Stephen Wade said the new beds will cater for long stay patients who are transitioning back home or to community services, while also assisting to manage an increase in hospital demand.
“The Marshall Liberal Government is committed to reactivating and revitalising what will be a critical part of South Australia’s future health system,” Minister Wade said.
“We know that patients can wait for months in hospital for out-of-hospital support. These 10 beds will provide a more appropriate environment for the transition of care of long stay patients.
“The beds will also assist in managing demand and improving bed availability for acute patients within the Southern Adelaide Local Health Network (SALHN) over the next few months.
“This is all part of our investment in our clinicians, services and world-class infrastructure to better support the health and wellbeing of all South Australians.”
The 10 new beds are in addition to the 20 beds for long stay patients which opened at the Repat site late last year.
SALHN Co-Director of Rehabilitation, Aged Care and Palliative Care, Catherine Hughes, said hundreds of patients have already been cared for at the Repat since those beds opened.
“Since opening the 20 beds at the Repat in December, we have cared for more than 400 patients as they transition back home or to community services,” Ms Hughes said.
“Over this same period, Flinders Medical Centre (FMC) also saw record highs for Emergency Department presentations and hospital admissions.
“However, as a direct result of the 20 Repat beds, we have been able to accommodate more than 1,500 acute and emergency patients within FMC despite the significant increases in demand.
“SALHN recently achieved zero overdue elective surgery cases by 30 June which was helped by the additional bed capacity at FMC.
“With these 10 new beds opening at the Repat tomorrow, we expect to see continued improvements to alleviate pressure across the typically busier months of September and October.”
As part of the agreement between SALHN and the not for profit sector, the 10 new beds will be opened from tomorrow for a period of almost 4 months to assist during times of peak demand.
Minister Wade said he remained committed to reversing the damage done by Labor under Transforming Health.
“The former Labor Government closed the Repat and ignored the South Australian community’s demand that a genuine health precinct be retained on the site,” Minister Wade said.
“We listened to the community and upon coming to Government, we terminated the contract for the sale of the Repat, securing it as a public asset. We have ensured that South Australians retain ownership of this important and valued site.
“Earlier this year, we unveiled the broader master plan for the Repat and secured $70 million in State and Federal funding to reactivate the site as a genuine health precinct.
“We are working towards delivering on the master plan, which includes a statewide brain and spinal rehabilitation facility, a state-of-the-art gymnasium, a community town square and a dedicated dementia village.”
