Work has begun on the $41 million Berri Hospital Redevelopment in South Australia.

 

Acting Health Minister Patrick Conlon said workers have been on site for a few weeks installing the site offices, putting in support structures and getting the site ready.

 

Work will start first on the new Emergency Department and operating theatres and a temporary ambulance bay will be built before the land is excavated and the foundations are laid.

 

Over the course of the redevelopment, project and clinical staff will meet regularly with the builders to keep disruption to patients and their visitors at a minimum.

 

The redeveloped hospital will include two new fully equipped operating theatres, enhanced palliative care services and four chemotherapy chairs. The hospital’s Emergency Department will double in size, with two trauma rooms and four

treatment rooms planned as part of the redevelopment.

 

There will be four Intermediate Care and two Limited Treatment beds for mental health consumers while the hospital’s renal dialysis unit will go from two chairs to four.

 

All inpatient rooms at the redeveloped hospital will be singles with ensuite bathrooms, ensuring greater privacy for patients and best practice care and infection control.

 

To view the redevelopment concept plans, visit www.sahealth.sa.gov.au/berrihospitalredevelopment.

 

The redevelopment is due to be completed in December 2013.