Planning Assessment Commission receives plans for $59 million extension of Lyell McEwin Hospital
Plans have been lodged for a $59 million extension of the Lyell McEwin Hospital emergency department.
Work will start soon on transforming the Lyell McEwin Hospital emergency department to ensure it can cope with the growth of Adelaide’s north.
The State Government is seeking approval for a $59 million project which involves expanding an existing car park before adding a three-level extension to the emergency department.
In applications lodged with the State Planning Commission, the Health Department says the extension is needed to handle increasing demand.
“The Lyell McEwin Hospital is one of Adelaide’s three main tertiary hospitals, serving the northern metropolitan areas and northern country South Australia,” it says.
“Population modelling of these areas indicate that there will be a significant increase in population over the next few decades in this catchment zone, resulting in a dramatic rise in the number of emergency presentations expected at the Lyell McEwin Hospital.
“This increase in demand will be more than double the number of presentations the current facility was designed to accommodate.”
The money needed for the extending the emergency department was approved by the previous Labor government in 2017.
It would create 2800 sqm extra floor space for a new ambulance arrival area, dedicated paediatric assessment and treatment spaces, short stay and quick assessment capabilities, more clinical spaces, a short stay mental health unit and new administration offices.
The mental health unit would have eight bedrooms with ensuites, dining and lounge rooms, staff work stations and consultant rooms.
“The budget for this project inclusive of the multi-deck carpark is $58.09 million,” says the application.
“Construction is currently being targeted to commence on site in early 2020 with practical completion being achieved in mid-2022.”
The first phase of the project involved the construction of the car park extension.
Modelling had shown the footprint of the bigger emergency department would require the removal of 81 existing car parks while creating demand for an extra 115 spaces when it was finished.
“The client directed the (project) team to investigate how the project could best accommodate the 196 carpark spaces (displaced and generated),” says the application.
“The final agreed solution was for an extension to the existing multi-deck carpark.”
Health Minister Stephen Wade said $7 million would be spent on the 205-space, five-level car park extension.
It would be built on the western side of the existing multi-deck facility.
“Staff and visitors at the Lyell McEwin Hospital desperately need extra carparking space, and with the existing facilities often full, people are often forced to park on the street,” he said.
Mr Wade said while the previous Labor government had budgeted for the emergency department extension, it had not planned for “a much-needed increase in carparking at the Lyell McEwin Hospital”.
“The new car park will provide a safe and secure parking area incorporated within the existing multideck facility which includes full weather protection, lighting, signage and CCTV to ensure safety and security for staff, patients and their loved ones,” he said.
“It will also alleviate the loss of around 67 existing car parks that will be removed to make way for the proposed Emergency Department expansion and new Mental Health short stay unit.
Northern Adelaide Local Health Network chief executive Maree Geraghty said the additional carparking would improve accessibility as demand on the hospital continued to grow.
“Providing a safe environment for our staff, patients and visitors is a high priority,” she said.
“This investment will help to ensure easier access to the hospital for all users.”
Ms Geraghty said the existing multi-deck car park had a capacity of 1227 spaces. This would increase to 1432 with the expansion.
Construction on the car park was due to start later this year and be completed in 2020.
Work would then start on the emergency department extension.
Security at the Lyell McEwin has been under scrutiny since a nurse was stabbed in June by a man while standing outside the emergency department having a cigarette.