Women’s and Children’s Hospital to use temporary treatment ‘pods’ into foreseeable future

An Adelaide hospital is treating kids in a temporary building outside the service as demand continues to rise. But there are concerns about the dangers of its position.

The Women’s and Children’s Hospital want to continue treating emergency pediatric patients in temporary overflow areas, due to an increased on demand on its service.

The WCH says the nine ‘pods’ have helped reduced emergency department wait times and helped it cope with a nine per cent rise in paediatric emergency presentations each year.

It has applied to Adelaide City Council to extend its permit to allow the pods to continue occupying the footpath, five parking bays and a traffic lane on Sir Edwin Smith Ave.

Originally established to manage patient flow during the pandemic, the pods have remained in place via short-term extensions due to patient demand.

SA Health Minister Chris Picton last year requested the permit be extended until 2031, when the new $3.2bn WCH hospital was anticipated to be open.

An artist impression the new Women’s and Children’s Hospital. Picture: Supplied

The permit extension has since been revised to December 31, 2026, which was discussed by the council’s Infrastructure and Public Works Committee on Tuesday night.

WCH staff had earlier told the council it would use the two-year extension to find alternate arrangements to treat some of its 53,000 emergency patients its sees each year.

Women’s and Children’s acting chief executive officer Dr James Rice said the pods created a private and safe space for children, who were often diverted from other hospitals during demand.

Cr Phil Martin said he was aware of concerns about the pod obstructing pedestrian and motorist vision and there were also “traffic issues, particularly during peak hour”.

However, Cr Martin said he would endorse the extension when it was considered by the full council next week.

He foreshadowed he may request the staff to make the WCH provide an alternate plan, as they previously promised, once the permit ceases.

The temporary pods on Sir Edwin Smith Ave. Picture: ACC report

Inside the Women’s and Children’s Hospital’s temporary pods. Picture: ACC report

Lord Mayor Jane Lomax-Smith told the meeting children would continue to receive the best possible care “wherever the pod sits”.

“What it is, is a traffic hazard, it’s a pedestrian hazard and it’s an eyesore and the suggestion I made originally is they should move it around the corner where there’s a slip road and a slope,” Dr Lomax-Smith said.

“There’s plenty of space around there, they said it’s difficult because it’s sloped.”

Inside the temporary WCH pods. Picture: ACC report

WCH temporary pods. Picture: ACC report

She feared if the extension was granted – which ceases when the council is in caretaker following the 2026 election – there may be moves for it to be extended for a further six years.

“And do we really want six years of blockage on the road? I think not,” she said.