SA Liberals promise to reinstate High Dependency Unit at Modbury Hospital if elected

THE Opposition says it will inject $110 million into the Modbury Hospital, including reinstating the high dependency unit, if elected in March 2018.

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THE Opposition says it will inject $110 million into the Modbury Hospital, including reinstating the high dependency unit, if elected in March 2018.

The election promise to spend a total of $20 million on re-instating the HDU is the exact opposite to plans announced by the State Government in December, which see Modbury’s high dependency unit removed as part of the controversial Transforming Health reforms.

Then, the Government committed $90 million, primarily to boost treatment of more complex emergency cases and elective surgery patients at Modbury.

HDUs are for patients who generally need high level monitoring and management of their condition, including for single organ failure.

The Opposition’s HDU re-instatement goes against advice from 46 senior northern Adelaide doctors who say establishing a high dependency unit at Modbury was “unsafe and not clinically viable”.

However, Opposition health spokesman Stephen Wade was adamant “there is a diversity of clinicians opinions - a number of clinicians from within the hospital continue to support it”.

“The AMA makes it clear that they believe that northern hospitals need critical care beds (an HDU),” he said.

“We’re getting consistent clinical advice from within the hospital and beyond, the HDU is an important investment.”

The Liberal Party will also restore surgical capacity and upgrade emergency services at Modbury if elected.

Health Minister Peter Malinauskas today accused the Opposition of announcing a “$100 million policy backflip.”

“They’ve announced that they’re essentially copying the Labor Party policy at Modbury Hospital to invest another $90 million to a range of services that we committed to as a result of very substantial community consultation exercise.”

“They are continuing to ignore clinical advice including from the AMA, the Medical Association, and also senior Emergency Department and ICU clinicians, to not have a High Dependency Unit at Modbury Hospital because it is dangerous.”

The upgrade announcement comes after the State Government downgraded parts of Modbury in recent years, including the emergency department, turning it into a hospital focused on elective surgery and rehabilitation.

The Advertiser previously reported 46 senior northern Adelaide doctors said establishing a high dependency unit at Modbury was “unsafe and not clinically viable”.

The letter was submitted as part of Mr Malinauskas’ public consultation process that fed into a review of the hospital.

Community campaigners and Independent Florey MP Frances Bedford had fought for the HDU to be returned.