Designs for South Australia’s $58 million major redevelopment of the Lyell McEwin Hospital emergency department (ED) and Short Stay Mental Health Unit have been submitted for planning approval.
The redevelopment aims to increase capacity for adult treatment spaces in ED, include a new eight bed short stay mental health unit, a new emergency extended care unit and a new reception, waiting and triage area.
Expanded paediatric assessment and treatment spaces were also included in the designs, with dedicated ambulance arrival areas for patient transfers, additional resuscitation triage capabilities and a bulk decontamination unit.
Additional work and education spaces for staff will also be built, along with new quick assessment and discharge facilities.
SA Health and Wellbeing Minister, Stephen Wade, said the proposed plans will almost double the capacity of the ED to help cater for projected population growth in the north.
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“The ED activity at the Lyell McEwin Hospital has increased significantly over the past decade from 42,000 to more than 76,000 presentations last financial year, and activity is projected to continue to increase annually,” Wade said.
“The plan is to develop a three-storey building development, north of the existing emergency department, which will alleviate pressure on the emergency department into the future.
“The purpose-built eight-bed Short Stay Mental Health Unit will provide a more suitable care environment for mental health patients requiring a short stay, and improve patient flow through the emergency department.”
ED treatment spaces have been reduced from 77 spaces to 72 in the plans submitted to the SA Planning Commission.
Wade said this is because an increase in car parking spaces at the Lyell McEwin Hospital was not included as part of the redevelopment plans, requiring some money to be invested in relocating the car parking displaced by the works.
“As a result, we have been forced to commit to a $7 million expansion of the 5-level multi-deck car park at the hospital,” he said.
“Construction on the new car park will begin in the coming months to cater for growing demand and to alleviate the loss of around 67 existing car parks from the development.”
Northern Adelaide Local Health Network Chief Executive Officer, Maree Geraghty, said the redevelopment is a major boost for the north.
“The Lyell McEwin Hospital has continued to grow with the community over the past 60 years, and this expansion will help cater for the future health needs of the growing northern Adelaide population,” Geraghty said.
“The project will be completed in stages in order for the existing emergency department to remain operational, and I thank our staff and community in advance for their patience while this project is underway.”
Construction is scheduled to begin in early 2020 and is forecast to be completed in 2022.