Construction is set to begin on a 98-bed tower at Flinders Medical Centre, as a new 20-bed inpatient ward nears completion, providing a huge health care boost for the south.

Designs for the new seven-level Acute Services Building (Tower) have been released, revealing its position at the front of Flinders Medical Centre.

It will include two 32-bed Adult Inpatient Units, an 18-same-day-bed Medical Day Unit, as well as a 16-bed Intensive Care Unit and supporting CT scanner suite.

The Tower will also provide four new Operating Theatres, 14-bay recovery areas, a new Day of Surgery Admissions area and a dedicated floor for the FMC Eye Surgery Clinic that will enable the integration of FMC’s ophthalmology services into a single, modern facility.

It is part of a $498 million investment, jointly funded by the state and federal governments, to significantly increase hospital capacity in the south.

The new FMC Tower, which is expected to open in 2028, will form the new main entrance for the hospital.

The redevelopment of FMC will also include upgrades to essential infrastructure in the hospital to allow for the upgrade including the kitchen, sterilisation services, mortuary and engineering plant.

The Tower, which will deliver more than 17,000sqm of new built area and 3,000sqm of refurbished area, will include more than $20 million of new major medical equipment, including new advanced medical imaging devices to support the hybrid operating theatre, automated pharmacy dispensing cabinets and a new CT scanner.

Early works for the new Flinders Tower will start next month, including the establishment of new bus drop off zones along Flinders Drive.

It comes as 20 new fast-tracked beds are nearing completion at FMC, converting a former office space into a new ward.

Expected to open in May, the new 20-bed inpatient ward will provide acute care services for older South Australians.

The new ward will include eight single rooms including bariatric rooms, five shared rooms, a Diversional Therapy space, as well as a patient lounge area and a private meeting space.

The ward will free up existing beds within the hospital, helping to improve patient flow in the emergency department.

The designs for the ward were developed following consultation with key stakeholders, including clinicians, staff and patients. 

Space for the expansion was created through the relocation of administrative offices to other sites across FMC.

Artist impression images and flyover of the new Tower can be viewed online. 

 Professor Kerrie Freeman is Chief Executive Officer of the SA Local Health Network.

“The FMC Tower will be transformational for the care we can offer to patients across southern Adelaide.  

“These modern units will allow faster treatment in modern settings and enable our staff to care for more people. 

“We are delighted that the 20-bed ward will be coming online soon. The extra beds will free up space in other parts of the hospital as well as bring specialised care for older people with acute needs. 

“More clinical spaces means we can see more people faster, reducing the time people need to wait in the emergency department waiting room.”