The new Women’s and Children’s Hospital is set to be way more than just a striking building. Find out what the newly released design means for mums and their children and families, plus how it fits into SA’s massive healthcare transformation.
Work has started on the $3.2 billion new Women’s and Children’s Hospital (WCH) at Thebarton, marking an exciting step forward for the state’s healthcare system.
It comes as new artist’s impressions of the finished nine-level hospital reveal a state-of-the-art facility that blends sleek modernity with patient-focused care. Picture flowing lines, calming Park Land views, and a massive 1,300-space car park.
The hospital’s ‘block and stack’ plans – a map of where clinical services and departments will be located – have also been recently updated with the help of staff and patients to ensure they fit the community’s needs.
The hospital designs certainly look great, but this project is about a whole lot more than looks. Here’s what will make the new WCH special when it’s finished by 2030-31:
Care reimagined
No more shuffling seriously ill patients between hospitals and floors. The new WCH has all its birthing suites, theatres, paediatric ICU and neonatal ICU on the same floor, bringing mums and babies closer together – no matter what their healthcare needs.
There will also be a four-bed integrated intensive care unit for women next to the paediatric ICU. This means women who need high-level care can stay at the new WCH with their babies, rather than being transported to the RAH. It makes for faster care when every minute counts, plus care that’s more in line with new mums’ emotional needs.
Room to grow
The new WCH boasts a larger emergency department and 56 more overnight beds than the current hospital, with room to add another 20 down the track. Plus, the site has been planned with expansion in mind for both the WCH and the Royal Adelaide Hospital.
Built for the future
We don’t know what medical breakthroughs the future holds, but one thing’s for sure – this hospital is ready. It’s designed to handle cutting-edge cardiac surgery techniques and any other advancements that come our way, ensuring our kids and their kids get the best possible care.
Eco-conscious care
Did you know the new WCH will be the first fully electric public hospital in South Australia? This is a win for the planet and a sign of the state government’s commitment to sustainability.
Easy access
The new 1,300-space car park will have plenty of disability car parks and pram parking. That’s significantly more than the current 940-space car park, ensuring less stress during visits, plus easier commutes for staff.
For regional patients, the helipad ensures fast and easy access in an emergency.
A lot more is happening in healthcare…
The WCH upgrade is just one piece of a transformation happening in healthcare across South Australia. 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.
That means major upgrades at places like Flinders Medical Centre, Lyell McEwin Hospital, and the Queen Elizabeth Hospital – we’ve got all the details.
Stay up to date on the progress of the new Women’s and Children’s Hospital here.
