Works on Mount Barker Soldiers Memorial Hospital's new emergency department (ED) are now underway, creating up to 46 full time jobs during construction.
Minister for Health and Wellbeing Stephen Wade said the $15.45 million emergency department redevelopment at Mount Barker Hospital demonstrates the Marshall Liberal Government's commitment to provide better healthcare in the Hills community, closer to home.
"Delivering high quality health care for the Mount Barker and Hills community is a priority of the Marshall Liberal Government," said Minister Wade.
"This redevelopment is delivering a new contemporary, purpose-built ED with increased capacity to provide emergency care, providing an additional 12 treatment bays and expanding capacity to accommodate up to 22,000 emergency presentations a year.
"The new ED will have a total of 17 treatment bays, including two resuscitation bays, two paediatric treatment bays and 13 patient treatment bays, including a new negative pressure treatment bay and other clinical rooms to support the delivery of emergency services"
Federal Minister for Health and Aged Care, Greg Hunt, said the partnership between federal and state governments in South Australia meant more surety for South Australian patients.
"The Morrison Government's funding contribution for public hospitals services in South Australia under the National Health Reform Agreement (NHRA) has grown substantially from $1.0 billion in 2012-13 to $1.5 billion in 2019-20, or by 48 per cent," Minister Hunt said.
"Our partnership with Marshall Government is strong and this gives the confidence to invest in upgrades, such as here at Mount Barker, to ensure patients get the care they need."
Barossa Hills Fleurieu Local Health Network Chief Executive Officer, Rebecca Graham said "Mount Barker Hospital has a long and significant history in providing a wide range of health care to the local community."
"This work is the next step in ensuring Mount Barker and the surrounding community will continue to receive comprehensive treatment and emergency care in a contemporary, patient-centric environment and I would like to thank everyone who is involved in the ED process."
Works on the new ED will be completed in stages to ensure the current Mount Barker Hospital ED will continue to deliver emergency care throughout the construction. The new ED is expected to be complete in early 2023.
The Mount Barker Hospital Emergency Department Redevelopment comprises of $11.6 million in Commonwealth funding and up to $3.85 million State Government funding.
