Victorian medical professional urges South Aussies to stop ‘whingeing’ about new Royal Adelaide Hospital

THE new RAH has attracted plenty of criticism but after spending a lot of time in the building over the past week, a Victorian medical professional says South Australians should be proud and stop talking down our “shining star” hospital.

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A VICTORIAN medical professional who works in private and public hospitals in Melbourne has told South Australians to “be proud” and stop “whingeing” about our “shining star” — the new Royal Adelaide Hospital.

In a letter to the Editor published in today’s Advertiser, the woman, who was visiting her sick sister at the hospital this week, has expressed how “impressed” she was with the “amazing facility”.

“I have been aware of the negative media coverage but this facility is world class,” Narelle Sulley, 56, of Surrey Hills in Victoria, wrote.

“South Australians should be proud of it, not finding ways to criticise everything about it.”

Ms Sulley, a physiotherapist, was so impressed by the hospital she went on to say that whoever designed the RAH’s direct sunlight features, open windows and day beds in every room “deserves a medal”.

“Be proud South Australians, not negative, whingeing ones,” she wrote.

Hospital or hotel? Private rooms for patients on the wards in the new RAH hospital. Picture: Bianca De Marchi.

Her glowing remarks came after huge criticism about some areas of the new hospital, including below-par patient food and design flaws, including problems with the size of lifesaving resuscitation rooms and lack of outpatient rooms.

Speaking to The Advertiser, Ms Sulley said the RAH patient rooms were “1000 times better” than the private hospital her sister also spent time in.

“She felt boxed in, the rooms were dark and she couldn’t open any windows,” she said.

“(But at the RAH) the direct sunlight is so good for your soul when you’ve been in another hospital room that’s dark.”

Ms Sulley praised the hospital day beds — a design feature in every hospital room that allows a relative or friend to stay overnight with patients, labelling them as a “lifesaver”.

“The day bed was the best innovation I have ever seen ... I have not seen them in any other hospital,” she said.

“By me being there and welcome to be in the hospital (it was) very reassuring for my sister and I was happy to provide that emotional support for her.

“The care is obviously what we’re there for but the environment made it easier for my sister to get better.”

Ms Sulley said she was sick of hearing negativity around the RAH.

“I work in hospitals, I know my way around — I just think it’s a shining star and South Australians should be proud of it,” she said.

The exterior of the new Royal Adelaide Hospital.