Modbury Hospital

The Hon. J.M. RANKINE (Wright) (14:41): My question is to the Minister for Health. How is the investment in rehabilitation services at Modbury Hospital improving health services for the residents of our north and north-eastern suburbs?

The Hon. J.J. SNELLING (Playford—Minister for Health, Minister for the Arts, Minister for Health Industries) (14:42): I do know the answer to that, and I thank the member for Wright and acknowledge her advocacy for the health needs of the people of the north-east.

As the house would be aware, since 2014 the state government has invested $32 million at Modbury Hospital to build brand-new facilities, including significantly expanded rehabilitation services in the north and north-east. I'm pleased to say that after months of clinical planning, this week SA Health started the transfer of patients and staff from the Hampstead Rehabilitation Centre and the Royal Adelaide Hospital to Modbury's brand-new rehab facilities.

This transfer has seen more than 20 patients and over 30 health staff moving to Modbury Hospital. I am told that it went safely and smoothly, thanks to the hard work and collaboration between staff from all three health sites. This transfer of services enables stroke, orthopaedic and amputee patients, as well as those recovering from surgery or other illnesses, to receive their care closer to home in modern, state-of-the-art facilities.

This major boost to rehab services at Modbury Hospital means that it is now well and truly the major rehabilitation hub for the north and north-eastern suburbs. Investment in our state's rehab facilities is so important because, as our population ages, the demand for rehab services will continue to grow. In response to this growing demand, our state's best rehabilitation doctors, nurses and allied health professionals have developed a new model for providing rehab care, ensuring consistent, modern and quality care.

The contemporary model includes increased inpatient and ambulatory rehab services within our hospitals. Rehab patients at Modbury Hospital have access to upgraded wards, 52 rehabilitation beds, 18 treatment rooms, a gym, a hydrotherapy pool, a therapy garden, a laboratory to analyse patient mobility, prosthesis services, a kitchen and laundry where clients can re-learn and practice every day tasks, and cutting-edge tele-rehab facilities so that our country patients can receive care at home.

This upgrade of Modbury Hospital's rehab services means that our patients can access care and first-class modern facilities much sooner after recovering from acute hospital treatment. It allows our patients to go home safely and sooner than ever before. Previously, the majority of north and north-eastern residents needing continued rehab services had to travel significant distances to access them. Now the community has access to top-level rehab care right on their doorstep.

The government is delivering modern, forward-looking health services based on real evidence and projections about the health needs of our community. We know that our population is ageing, we know how important early rehab services are for our patients and we know how much the community is interested in the improvements at Modbury, with hundreds of people seeing the impressive rehab building at an open day earlier in the year.