Modbury Hospital’s $96m upgrade to start next month, finish in 2021

Modbury Hospital’s $96 million upgrade will start next month, delivering more palliative care and 26 extra general care beds, in a bid to ease pressure on the wider health system.

An artist’s impression of the Modbury Hospital upgrade. Picture: Supplied

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Modbury Hospital’s $96 million upgrade will start next month, delivering more palliative care and 26 extra general care beds, in a bid to ease pressure on the wider health system.

Health and Wellbeing Minister Stephen Wade released designs for the build on Sunday, after the hospital’s future became a critical issue in marginal seats decisive at last year’s election.

The entire Modbury project is due for completion in late 2021, and to delivered in stages.

However, the Opposition has accused Mr Wade of simply re-announcing development plans it committed to while in power and failing to make real progress on a high dependency unit.

Highlights of the redevelopment include expansion of the surgical floor, eight additional beds in an extended emergency care unit and updating the aged facade to modern standards.

The EECU will be co-located with an upgraded 26 bed short stay general medical unit.

The upgrade will also feature a new purpose-built 20-bed palliative care unit and relocating the outpatients department to allow more streamlined access in a more efficient location.

Mr Wade said an expert working group led by independent clinicians was “developing a model for a four-bed HDU at Modbury Hospital that will allow patients with complex needs to be treated locally, reducing the number of transfers to the Lyell McEwin Hospital”.

Another look at the Modbury Hospital upgrade Picture: Supplied

The Government’s promise to establish a HDU at Modbury became highly-controversial during the election campaign, with warnings from some clinicians that it could not be done safely as patients who deteriorated would have to later be moved to intensive care elsewhere.

Mr Wade said a HDU would be “fundamental to the Government’s plans to broaden the range of services available” in the area, and people wanted to receive care close to home.

“While Labor downgraded services at Modbury as part of their failed Transforming Health plan, the Marshall Liberal Government is investing in world-class infrastructure to deliver better patient care closer to home for the residents in the north and northeast,” he said.

“The expansion will ease pressure on our busy emergency departments and modernise the aged facility, increasing capabilities and improving facilities for patients and staff.

“The innovative designs and relocation plans will enhance clinical collaboration between departments across Modbury hospital, and have positive flow on effects.

Northern Adelaide Local Health Network chief executive Maree Geraghty said there would be disruptions during construction and thanked staff for their anticipated patience.

The Government says money for the build has already been allocated in the State Budget.

Opposition assistant health spokesman Blair Boyer said the a “desperate” Mr Wade had announced projects started by Labor and had no clear plan for a new HDU.

“He’s essentially just come out and re-announced all the things that Labor had committed to,” Mr Boyer said. “But the key question about if and when they will establish the high dependency unit is not even really given lip-service. It’s clear to me that they still can’t get advice from any clinicians that returning a four-bed HDU to Modbury is safe.

“This is an act of desperation from the minister to come out and try to manufacture something to make it look like progress is being made on Modbury and take everyone’s attention away from the big question about the high dependency unit.”