29 July 2022
Due to our relentless advocacy, more than 100 extra private beds have been secured across South Australia’s public health system to help ease the crushing demand caused by COVID-19, flu and winter ills.
The State Government on Thursday announced a total 107 additional beds will be made available to public patients as soon as possible, comprising of ICU, ward, sub-acute and SA Ambulance diversion beds.
It follows an initial call by the ANMF (SA Branch) last week to reimpose limits on elective surgery in the private system.
ANMF (SA Branch) CEO/Secretary Adj Associate Professor Elizabeth Dabars AM said “we warmly welcome” the additions, following a meeting with the Health Minister and his office less than 24 hours prior to the announcement being made.
“It is not only those additional beds, but the staff attached to those beds which should provide some relief that the health system desperately needs,” Ms Dabars told Seven News.
“It reassures the community that they are going to have the care and treatment they need for them, or their loved ones, should they require it.”
The beds will be offered at Calvary Adelaide (20 beds), Calvary Central Districts Hospital (20 beds), Burnside Hospital (17 beds), Flinders Private Hospital (14 beds), Western Hospital (10 beds), Griffith Rehabilitation Hospital (8 beds), Calvary North Adelaide (6 beds), McLaren Vale Hospital (5 beds), North Eastern Community Hospital (4 beds) and Adelaide Clinic (3 beds). Direct admissions for cardiac patients will also be made available.
The Government says other measures being taken include thousands of new scholarships to upskill our health workforce, following prolonged lobbying from the ANMF (SA Branch), bolstering staff capacity with ongoing nurse recruitment and assistance from third-year nursing students, and providing alternative care pathways outside of our emergency departments, including virtual care services.
We have also been persistent with our requests for the Government to find appropriate places for NDIS and aged care patients ready for discharge, with more than 100 patients discharged this past week.