South Australians will be supported with even more hospital bed capacity when state borders relax, as the Marshall Liberal Government announces a further 73 beds as part of its $123 million bed capacity boost to ensure South Australia is COVID-ready.
The additional beds will utilise capacity at private hospitals across metropolitan Adelaide. This includes 30 beds at Calvary North Adelaide and Central Districts Hospitals and 20 at Flinders Private Hospital.
The Government is also working with Parkwynd Hospital to reopen facilities at the East Terrace facility, providing 23 additional beds.
Further announcements as part of the $123 million bed capacity investment will be made in the coming days.
Premier Steven Marshall said the Government's strong COVID-19 response has protected local jobs and kept South Australians safe.
"As we move closer to reaching our vaccination targets, we are building a stronger, more agile health system to ensure South
Australians have access to the care they need, when they need it," said Premier Marshall.
"Yesterday we announced 93 beds created in our public hospital system, today we are announcing a further 73 beds through the private hospital system.
This comes in addition to 107 beds already announced by SA Health earlier this week - we are getting on with the job of getting South Australia COVID-ready.
"We have needed to be agile throughout the pandemic in order to keep South Australian safe and our economy strong. We are proving that again by re-commissioning the former Parkwynd Hospital site, as well as working with private hospitals to open up capacity and support South Australia's transition to COVID-normal.
"South Australia has been the envy of the world throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, and we are delivering a strong COVID-ready plan to keep our community safe and our economy strong in the months ahead."
Minister for Health and Wellbeing Stephen Wade said that Marshall Liberal Government will deliver the capacity required to be COVID-ready.
"We are adding hundreds of beds to the system, in both public and private hospitals, as well as out-of-hospital care services that provide hospital level care in a person's home environment. We are getting on with delivering what's required to meet the health needs of South Australians when we relax our borders," said Minister Wade.
"Just as we have followed the public health advice in order to keep the state safe throughout the pandemic, we are doing everything we can to support the health needs of South Australians when vaccination targets are met..
"Our bed-capacity boost is supported by more frontline health staff in South Australia than ever before, as published by the independent Auditor-General in his report, and we are significantly increasing that workforce even further.
"South Australians can be assured that when our borders reopen, our health system will be ready for all South Australians to access the care they need if required."
The Marshall Liberal Government has also announced recruitment of 1200 additional nurses.
Latest data shows that over 74 per cent of South Australians over 16 have received their first vaccine dose and almost 57 per cent are fully vaccinated.
South Australians can book in for a vaccination at www.sahealth.sa.gov.au/covidvaccine and walk-ins are available at multiple clinics.
