Health Minister Jack Snelling announces $9.2 million for Modbury Hospital beds
EIGHT new extended care beds will start to be built at the Modbury Hospital from next year as part of a $9.2 million State Government grant.
EIGHT new extended care beds will be created at Modbury Hospital as part of a $9.2 million Government grant.
Health Minister Jack Snelling said the new facility, announced ahead of Thursday’s State Budget, would potentially reduce the amount of patient transfers to the nearby Lyell McEwin and Royal Adelaide Hospitals.
“But most importantly it’s going to enlarge the emergency department and just provide that extra capacity that a very busy emergency department needs,” Mr Snelling said.
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But the Opposition hit out at the announcement, saying it was a “political patch-up job” after it was changed from a general hospital to one that focuses on elective surgery and rehabilitation under Transforming Health.
Flanked by a group of MPs including independent Florey MP Frances Bedford, Mr Snelling laughed at suggestions the funding was a tactic to blunt Ms Bedford’s influence.
“Frances and I are as one when it comes to the Modbury Hospital. She and I have been working together for a long time,” he said.
“I make no secret that Frances and all the MPs and candidates standing behind me have been campaigning hard for an extended care unit at this hospital.
“We all agree that it’s important, it’s something the emergency department doctors have been calling for and it’s something that we’re all united on.”
Ms Bedford quit the Labor Party after Mr Snelling was preselected to move from Playford to Florey.
She yesterday told reporters that voters should “pick the girl” at the next election, but said she hadn’t decided if she would contest her seat for a sixth time.
Opposition health spokesman Stephen Wade said the new money wasn’t an upgrade, but an expansion of the bed capacity in emergency care.
“There is no talk of the restoration of the High Dependency Unit or the emergency and other surgery taken away through Transforming Health.
“I am very concerned at reports that current ED staff will be expected to cover the additional beds, especially at a time when the Government is trying to force them to pick up medical emergency cover for the whole hospital.”