Modbury Hospital to undergo $90m upgrade

MODBURY Hospital is set for a $90 million upgrade, with new units that will allow the treatment of more complex emergency cases and elective surgery patients.

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MODBURY Hospital is set for a $90 million upgrade, with new units that will allow the treatment of more complex emergency cases and elective surgery patients.

The investment means patients with more complex issues can be admitted for up to 72 hours. Now, patients can only stay up to 23 hours before they are transferred to other major hospitals for treatment.

A palliative care centre is also part of the project.

The Government has decided not to re-establish Modbury’s high dependency unit, which was removed as part of the controversial Transforming Health reforms. Instead, it is focusing on boosting the hospital’s surgical capacity, with spending to include:

$35.4 MILLION for an acute surgical unit which will broaden the range of elective surgeries, though the new procedures are yet to be determined.

Aerial view of works proposed for Modbury Hospital.

$18.1 MILLION for new extended emergency care and acute medical units, both next to the emergency department. They will allow more patients to be treated sooner, and reduce the need for transfers to other hospitals, particularly the Lyell McEwin.

$15.6 MILLION for a palliative care facility with 16 rooms with private bathrooms.

$22.5 MILLION for infrastructure upgrades including updated lifts and airconditioning and a major overhaul of the building’s facade.

The upgrade adds $82.4 million via the Government’s midyear budget review to the $9.2 million previously committed to the hospital in the State Budget.

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

While the emergency department opens 24/7, ambulances with complex and urgent emergency cases currently bypass Modbury in favour of Lyell McEwin Hospital.

Health Minister Peter Malinauskas said the Modbury upgrade was a result of an “extensive consultation process with the community and clinicians”.

Artist's impression of operating theatres at Modbury Hospital.

“People want to see less transfers to the Lyell McEwin from Modbury,” he said.

“(This) investment provides greater breadth of surgery and the ability to do more complex surgery at Modbury.

“We will be able to treat more patients at the Modbury Hospital with more complex needs than what is currently the case.”

Mr Malinauskas said the decision not to re-establish the high dependency unit was the result of “loud and clear” advice from clinicians.

“(We) cannot do a high dependency unit at Modbury safely. It is not a high level complex tertiary hospital (like the Lyell McEwin),” he said.

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

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

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.

The upgrade announcement comes the day after Ms Bedford committed to recontesting her seat. In September the Opposition pledged $20 million to restore surgical capacity and upgrade emergency services at Modbury if elected.