Construction has started on a new Emergency Department (ED) for the South Coast District Hospital in Victor Harbor.

According to state MP for Finniss David Basham, the total budget for the project is $16.825 million, with $13.5 million from the federal Community Health and Hospitals Program initiative and $3.325 million from the state Regional Asset Sustained Program. 

“The new ED will be located adjacent to the footprint of the current Administration building.”

Mr Basham says part of the existing administrative building will be demolished to deliver the new ED, which will be close to other clinical hospital functions and accessible via a new entry on Bay Road. 

“This was considered the preferred option as it minimised disruption to clinical services at the existing ED, which can remain operational until the completion of the new facility and transition of services.”

The hospital upgrades were promised by the previous state and federal governments but delayed by the change of both governments in 2022.

According to the Department of Infrastructure and Transport forward works plan, the ED planning and design stage was scheduled for 2022, with construction due to start a year ago and be completed by early 2025.

Mr Basham has welcomed the project finally being delivered, thanking the previous state and federal health ministers for their financial commitment, which will double the size of the existing ED. 

He has posted the details on his Facebook page, where he says completion is now anticipated for May 2025