Three of Adelaide’s biggest hospitals are celebrating significant milestones in their multimillion-dollar expansions as they add hundreds of new beds and better patient facilities to Adelaide’s healthcare network. We’ve got all the details.
Flinders Medical Centre is about to start work on an upgrade worth almost half a billion dollars, the Lyell McEwin is set to open a 48-bed expansion in September and the Queen Elizabeth Hospital is in the final stages of its $314 million redevelopment. Altogether, 150 newly built beds will be opening this year as the state government expands South Australia’s healthcare system – part of an overall plan for 550 extra beds across the state. Below, we break down exactly what’s happening where to build better Adelaide hospitals.
This comes as new data shows the state government has recruited more than 1,432 extra health workers across SA in the past two years, including 691 nurses, 329 doctors, 219 ambos and 193 allied health workers.
Big news for Flinders Medical Centre
In a boost for southern Adelaide healthcare, Flinders Medical Centre (FMC) has unveiled designs for its once-in-a-lifetime upgrade, starring a brand new seven-storey tower that will become the hospital’s new main entrance.
It’s part of a $498 million joint investment from the state and federal governments to increase hospital capacity in Adelaide’s south, including a 160-bed expansion across the Flinders Medical Centre and the Repat Health Precinct.
The newly unveiled designs for the FMC tower show how this project will transform the hospital’s look and services. It includes more than 17,000 sqm of new construction and 3,000 sqm of refurbished space, equipped with more than $20 million in new major medical equipment. Early work on the FMC expansion will start next month, including new bus drop-off zones along Flinders Drive.
What’s included in the expansion?
The new FMC Tower will be a state-of-the-art building dedicated to acute care services, including:
- Increased bed capacity: The tower itself will add 98 new beds to FMC, bringing much-needed relief to the growing demand for healthcare in the southern suburbs.
- Specialised units: It will house two dedicated adult inpatient units, an 18-bed medical day unit for same-day procedures, and a state-of-the-art 16-bed intensive care unit with a CT scanner suite.
- Enhanced surgical services: Four new operating theatres and a dedicated day of surgery admissions area will streamline surgical procedures, reducing wait times.
- Eyecare consolidation: The FMC eye surgery clinic will be moving into the new tower, creating a central and modern facility for ophthalmology services.
More beds available now!
While the entire tower is expected to open in 2028, patients won’t have to wait that long to see improvements. A new 20-bed inpatient ward for older patients has been fast-tracked in the meantime and opened at the end of April. The new ward will free up beds in other parts of the hospital to decrease wait times. That’s good news for anyone, young or old, who needs to be admitted for care.
Meanwhile, up north…
Construction is well underway on a $47 million, 48-bed expansion at Lyell McEwin Hospital. The new build – 5,900 sqm across a single level – is on track to be finished by September.
Why is it a big deal?
- Tackling growing demand: The north is booming, and so is the need for hospital services. This project adds much-needed new beds to help handle the increase in patient numbers.
- Focus on patient experience: The new wards will include 48 single rooms with private bathrooms – a major improvement for both comfort and infection control.
- Specialised care: The expansion includes rooms specifically designed for bariatric patients, dementia care, and infectious disease isolation. This means better care for people with complex needs.
- Planning better patient medication safety: Clean utility rooms to house the rollout of automated drug dispenser units.
Better hospitals = more jobs
Projects like this aren’t just about better hospitals – they create work too. The Lyell McEwin expansion is generating 160,000 hours of construction work and creating 958 jobs during the construction phase. Almost 160 tradespeople, almost all local, have contributed to the project.
More good news for the north
The state government’s project to increase Lyell Mac services also includes the $58 million emergency department upgrade, completed earlier this year. The ED now has an extra 1,900 sqm of clinical floor space, with treatment spaces up from 53 to 76.
The government has also purchased 1.79 hectares of land next to the hospital, opening up the opportunity for more expansion as the needs of the northern suburbs continue to grow.
Modbury Hospital’s upgrade
For residents of Adelaide’s northeastern suburbs, there’s also the $117 million expansion of Modbury Hospital to look forward to, which will increase its overnight bed capacity by 20 per cent. It’s set to open by the end of next year, including a new mental health rehab precinct and cancer treatment clinic.
And in the west…
The Queen Elizabeth Hospital (TQEH) is in the final stages of its $314 million redevelopment, with a brand new five-storey clinical services building and 24 mental health rehabilitation beds set to open by mid-2024. This is a huge leap forward for the hospital and sets a new standard for healthcare in the western suburbs.
- Replacing outdated facilities: The 27,000 sqm building replaces an ageing tower from the 1950s. It’s designed to handle the growing population’s needs, providing a state-of-the-art environment for critical care.
- Rehabilitation revolution: Perhaps most excitingly, TQEH is becoming a leader in inpatient rehab services. They’re consolidating these services from Hampstead Rehabilitation Centre, offering everything from stroke recovery to specialised burns care in dedicated, purpose-built wards.
- Beyond rehab: The upgrade includes a boost to almost every area of the hospital: A larger emergency department, expanded operating theatres, a cutting-edge intensive care unit, and even upgraded medical imaging.
Designed with patients in mind
The design isn’t just about function – a healing environment was a key priority. Expect lots of natural light, outdoor spaces, and even artwork that celebrates First Nations heritage and fosters cultural inclusivity. Doctors, nurses, patients, and the wider community were all consulted on the design to make sure the new facilities truly meet everyone’s needs. More details are here.
