SA Health winter plan: ED flu tests could force Repat Hospital reactivation to ease strain

IF you thought the venerable Repatriation Hospital had been mothballed — think again — and we may have the winter to thank for its potential reactivation.

TESTING patients for influenza in emergency departments, temporary postponement of non-urgent overnight elective surgery and the potential reactivation of beds at the decommissioned Repat are part of SA Health’s Winter Demand Management Plan, announced on Friday.

Minister for Health and Wellbeing Stephen Wade said the plan included the opening of 48 extra beds in metropolitan hospitals — 11 at the Lyell McEwin Hospital, 25 at Hampstead Rehabilitation Centre, and a 12-bed dedicated Extended Emergency Care Unit (EECU) at Flinders Medical Centre — to increase capacity this winter.

He said if these measures were stretched and the beds at the Repat were needed, “activation could be within weeks”.

“Highest peaks are often in August and September in terms of influenza notifications,’’ he said.

Minister for Health and Wellbeing Stephen Wade

“It’s relatively low at this stage but can come up very quickly, we need to remain alert and nimble.

“The Southern Network monitors admissions to make sure they have the capacity when they need it.”

If they were needed, reopening beds at the Repat would cost around $4 million.

He said it was hoped these “contingencies” would reduce ambulance ramping.

Point-of-care testing, already introduced at the RAH and FMC, means patients can be tested for flu infection while they are in emergency departments, without involving SA Pathology.

It is expected to reduce waiting time for these patients to 30 minutes rather than hours.

It will start at the Women’s and Children’s and Lyell McEwin hospitals on Monday, July 2, and at the QEH, Noarlunga and Modbury hospitals on Saturday, July 9.

Other winter management strategies include using peri-urban and country hospitals to enable clinically suitable patients to receive ongoing care, and ensuring those most at risk have access to influenza vaccinations.

Mr Wade said the plan would continue to evolve.

“For the first time, SA Health is assessing the option of mobile x-ray services so patients in aged care can access diagnostic services in their facility, rather than travel to an emergency department,” he said.

“We have also improved access to medical imaging services at some hospitals so that necessary support services are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

“In addition to the winter demand management strategy the Marshall Government has established a discharge lounge at the RAH and opened up 10 additional mental health beds.”