Plans for $58m Lyell McEwin Hospital upgrade in SA revealed

Plans have been revealed for the $58 million upgrade of the Lyell McEwin Hospital emergency department (ED) and Short Stay Health Unit in Adelaide, South Australia. The project has also been submitted for planning approval.

This multi-million upgrade will help increase the capacity of the hospital’s emergency department so it can accommodate the future population growth in the north as well as an increase in demand for quality health care services.

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.

“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,” Minister for Health and Wellbeing Stephen Wade said.

The upgrade will include:

• Additional capacity for adult treatment spaces in ED
• A new dedicated 8-bed Short Stay Mental Health Unit
• An Emergency Extended Care Unit
• New reception, waiting and triage area
• Expanded dedicated paediatric assessment and treatment spaces
• Dedicated ambulance arrival area for patient transfers
• Additional resuscitation triage capabilities
• A new bulk decontamination unit
• New quick assessment and discharge facilities
• Work stations and education spaces for staff

“The purpose-built 8-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,” Minister Wade said.

The plan submitted to the SA Planning Commision features a reduced number of ED treatment spaces - from 77 to 72 spaces. This reduction was made to reallocate funding towards the construction of more parking spaces - approximately $7 million has been committed to the expansion of the car parking.

Source: SA Health

“It is a planning requirement to increase parking as you expand hospitals, not reduce it.

“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,” Minister Wade said.

According to Northern Adelaide Local Health Network Chief Executive Officer Maree Geraghty, this upgrade will bring in a major boost to 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.

“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,” Ms Geraghty said.

Works on the hospital upgrade are anticipated to commence early in 2020 and completed in 2022.

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Source: Premier of South Australia; Inside Construction; SA Health