The state government will deliver a $74 million upgrade of Noarlunga Hospital – the biggest ever capital investment at the site – boosting the number of beds by more than 50 per cent.

This will add 48 new beds to the hospital, lifting capacity from 92 to 140 beds.

The project doubles the number of beds Labor pledged for Noarlunga in the lead-up to the election.

A new purpose-built $36 million Mental Health Rehabilitation Service will deliver 24 specialist mental health beds for those with high and complex needs.

In addition, a new $38 million 24-bed Inpatient Medical Unit will be built.

Health Minister Chris Picton says it will be the biggest investment in upgrading and expanding Noarlunga Hospital ever seen. 

“It will mean more beds, more doctors and nurses, and more care locally.

“More acute care and more mental health care at Noarlunga will help to reduce access block at our emergency departments at both Flinders and Noarlunga.”

SA Health and the Department for Infrastructure and Transport have engaged local architecture studios Wilshire Swain Architects and GHDWoodhead to work with clinical teams and consumers to design the hospital upgrade.

Concept planning and clinical consultation will start in the coming weeks, with construction expected to start on the new units later this year, following a competitive tender process.

Construction is also due to start on an expanded renal dialysis unit at Noarlunga Hospital later this month.

A $2.8 million 12-chair dialysis unit will be built in a newly refurbished area of the hospital opposite the main entrance, delivering an extra three chairs than the current unit. The new unit has also been designed by Wiltshire Swain Architects.

The state government says the upgrade is one of the steps it is taking to reduce ambulance ramping.

“Data for December shows transfer of care delays of 3,583 hours, a slight increase of 1.9 per cent compared with November, but still 6.6 per cent down from the high in June.

“There were ramping decreases in southern and northern hospitals (Flinders, Lyell McEwin, Noarlunga and Modbury) but increases in central hospitals (Royal Adelaide and Queen Elizabeth).

“This coincided with an increase in ambulance attendances at the RAH and QEH of more than 8 per cent as COVID hospitalisations peaked at 255 patients in hospital, the highest number since August.”