State Government rents 25 private Calvary beds amid ramping crisis

As the public health system again buckles under demand the government is renting 25 beds in a private city hospital – but only for people from the southern suburbs.

SA Health will rent 25 beds at the private Calvary Adelaide Hospital in a bid to ease ramping – but only for people from the southern suburbs.

They will be for patients transferred from Flinders Medical Centre and also Noarlunga Hospital, about 30km away.

The move may see the private hospital in Angas St in the city diverting ambulances with patients with private health cover if it is full, as has occurred in the past in times of high demand.

The announcement comes as ramping hit alarming new levels this week and all metropolitan hospitals were on Code White at times on Monday and Tuesday – emergency departments operating at 125 per cent or more above capacity – and amid public complaints of waiting 10 hours to be seen.

Ambulances ramping at Lyell McEwin Hospital on September 18.

Health Minister Chris Picton said the extra 25 beds would ease demand on hospitals in the south under a new partnership with Calvary.

“The extra 25 public beds being made available at Calvary will boost inpatient capacity when our hospitals are experiencing high demand,” he said.

The beds are for patients who would otherwise have been admitted to FMC or Noarlunga Hospital, with the SA Ambulance Service and SA Virtual Care Service transferring people as required.

Patients who have already been admitted may also be moved out of beds in these hospitals and taken to Calvary.

Calvary Adelaide Hospital in Angas Street Adelaide. Picture: NCA NewsWire / David Mariuz

Calvary SA regional chief executive Sharon Kendall said: “Calvary has a proud history of supporting the SA community and a longstanding valued relationship with SA Health.

“We work in a collaborative partnership to enhance access to quality care across a number of our facilities and services, including hospitals, home care and virtual care.

“This agreement between Calvary Adelaide Hospital and SALHN is part of our broader contribution to support the SA community and we look forward to continuing to provide high quality care to those we serve.”

Calvary Adelaide Hospital emergency department entrance. Picture: NCA NewsWire / David Mariuz

Opposition health spokeswoman Ashton Hurn noted the previous government worked closely with private hospitals during the height of the Covid emergency.

“Now we’re seeing it more and more during Labor’s ramping crisis – despite Peter Malinauskas’ promise to fix ramping, there are no signs of improvement, in fact the crisis has never been worse,” she said.

Mr Picton also announced FMC’s mental health inpatient facility, the Margaret Tobin Centre, is set to undergo a major redevelopment increasing bed numbers from 38 to 48 including a 12-bed Psychiatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU).

The expansion is part of a $400m redevelopment jointly funded by the state and federal governments that will see 160 extra beds delivered across FMC and the Repat.

Plans are being finalised on the $30m Margaret Tobin Centre upgrade following consultation with clinicians, consumers, and the area’s Aboriginal Stakeholder Reference Group.

The design aims to “create a homelike feel rather than an institutional or clinical environment.”

The new PICU will include two six-bed wings, with three private family meeting rooms, one large enough to accommodate extended family groups.

There will be a de-escalation room, courtyard, and dining area adjacent a secure kitchen.

Construction works expected to start early next year and be completed by mid-2025.

Southern Adelaide Local Health network Clinical Director Mental Health Services Dr Michael Nance said one in four people will experience a mental health issue in their lifetime.

“We know that with good, timely care people can, and do, recover from mental health illness,” he said.