12 December 2019
The Minister for Health and Wellbeing announced a ‘Southern Health Expansion Plan’ which he says will bolster health services in Southern Adelaide and includes:
- The transfer of patients with dementia and complex care needs from Noarlunga Hospital’s Myles Ward to a new 12-bed acute specialist facility at the former Repat site.
- The relocation of an acute ward at Flinders Medical Centre (FMC) into the empty Myles Ward space at Noarlunga Hospital aimed at enhancing acute capacity and increasing overnight medical cover in the emergency department.
- Using the space created at Flinders Medical Centre to expand the Emergency Department by 30 more emergency treatment spaces.
On the face of it the proposals appear to constrain bed capacity for services to people with dementia and complex needs and create the potential for additional pressure on acute medical beds at the FMC campus. There are no stated plans that will improve or ensure flow from the expanded ED into the inpatient areas and to discharge.
We would welcome member feedback about the announcements.
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