South Australia’s hospital system will have an additional 179 sub-acute beds and places with a focus on mental health as a result of new Commonwealth funding of $134 million for 12 South Australian projects.


Two new mental health rehabilitation centres will be built at Whyalla and Mount Gambier, three mental health crisis respite units will be built in the metropolitan area and a new ambulatory rehabilitation centre will be built at the Repatriation General Hospital.


Six projects will receive funding of almost $80 million to boost mental health services including 80 supported accommodation places.


The funding is part of a $253.1 million package to assist South Australia meet new hospital performance targets, which will be followed by at least $1.1 billion to 2020 that  the Commonwealth has promised to pay 50 per cent of hospital growth funding under its National Health Reform program.