The State Government’s new Mount Barker Hospital will call the existing site home after a rapid site assessment determined the current location to be most suitable.
Unveiling a first glimpse of the much-needed development on Tuesday, the new hospital, to be built at the existing Mount Barker Soldiers’ Memorial Hospital Wellington Road site will triple inpatient capacity to meet the expanding population’s needs.
The rapid site assessment identified the current location as most suitable due to its ability to incorporate the new Mount Barker Emergency Department (ED) – which is nearing completion – and have a staged roll-out of new bed capacity and services rather than waiting for completion of a facility on a new site.
“Mount Barker and the Hills are rapidly growing, and having more hospital services close to where people live is an important part of our wider plan to address ramping and have more ambulances turning up on time,” SA Premier, Peter Malinauskas, said.
“A bigger and better Mount Barker Hospital is exactly what the local community has been calling for, and we are getting on with the job of delivering this important election commitment.”
The $220 million hospital will have 102 beds – 68 more than the current facility – reducing the number of transfers to metropolitan hospitals, and will provide new outpatient and community health facilities, including consulting suites, an allied health gym, and telehealth and in-reach services, and a new 12-bed mental health unit.
In other good news, BreastScreen SA clinic has established a permanent clinic next to the hospital to provide about 9000 eligible women access to life-saving screening, with new additions to the space including a consulting room, two change rooms, and a dedicated reception area with client seating.
“We are pleased to be progressing on our commitment of new and improved health services for Mount Barker and wider Adelaide Hills communities,” Health Minister, Chris Picton, said.
“The site assessment for the new hospital has thoroughly and methodically weighed up all options of suitable locations for the new hospital, and we can now move forward with delivering this project that will significantly expand health services for this growing community.
“We understand the importance of regular screening for breast cancer, and are very pleased to see a permanent breast screening service in Mount Barker to allow more women to be screened closer to where they live.”
Mount Barker Hospital ED construction works are due for completion in June.
Services at the existing hospital will continue to operate throughout the new hospital’s construction, which is expected to be start at the end of the year and be completed by 2027.