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House of Assembly - Fifty-Second Parliament, First Session (52-1)
2011-03-23 Daily Xml
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WOMEN'S AND CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL

Ms THOMPSON (Reynell) (15:14): My question is to the Minister for Health. How is the upgrade of the Women's and Children's Hospital progressing?

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. J.D. HILL (Kaurna—Minister for Health, Minister for Mental Health and Substance Abuse, Minister for the Southern Suburbs, Minister Assisting the Premier in the Arts) (15:14): I thank the member for Reynell for her question. It is very good to get a sensible question about health for a change. Prior to the 2010 election, the government committed $64.4 million to the upgrade of the Women's and Children's Hospital.

The major upgrade will provide more operating theatres, children's rooms and intensive-care cots for our most vulnerable babies and children. It is part of our broader plan to redevelop or rebuild every single public hospital in metropolitan Adelaide. So I am delighted to announce today that approval has been given for the first stage of this major capital works project. The initial stage will fit out the new Gilbert Building level 6 medical ward. Level 6 is one of the three new levels of the Gilbert Building, built as part of a separate $24 million project to develop a children's cancer centre and redevelop the gene therapy laboratories and pulmonary medicine clinics.

In fact, we had money from the commonwealth to assist us to build two of those wards. We decided to build a third ward as part of the building works so that we could use it for other purposes when funds became available. They have, and now we are going to make that ward into 14 single patient rooms, each with a private ensuite bathroom. Importantly, there will be provision in each of those rooms for parents or guardians to be able to stay with their children when they are in hospital. I guess most of us would understand that when children are in hospital they are at their most vulnerable and are most worried, and the parents are also most worried. So, to have the parents being able to stay will help comfort a great deal.

Two single patient rooms dedicated as type 5 isolation rooms, each with a private ensuite and an anteroom, are meeting Australian standards for those patients at risk of transmitting respiratory infections. There will also be two, two-bed patient rooms, each with a shared ensuite, also with accommodation for parents available. There will be an assisted bathroom; parent's room and an activity playroom; a family care room to support the transition of long-stay patients; a multipurpose office and workstation areas, of course, for staff; a multipurpose meeting room that can be used for handovers; utility rooms and store rooms; and appropriate staff facilities, including a staffroom.

So, this upgrade will improve the capacity to isolate patients, thereby improving infection-control, and will reduce the need for multiple and unnecessary patient movements between wards by maximising suitable rooms. The first stage will also improve safety, dignity and privacy for patients and their families, and will include the creation of a confidential setting to communicate with children, parents and families. Importantly, appropriate space will be provided within the rooms to allow parents, as I said, to stay overnight.

The Gilbert Building level 6 ward fit-out project is the first stage of the $64.4 million project that I mentioned before, and that will involve the Good Friday Building fourth floor medical ward as well. Master planning for this broader project is continuing. These two buildings align due to the slope across the Women's and Children's Hospital site, and will collocate similar services. I am advised that level 6 of the Gilbert Building will provide improved facilities and increased benefits, such as maximising natural light.

Undertaking the fit-out in this newly constructed level will minimise disruption to the operational requirements of the hospital. Hansen Yuncken Pty Ltd, which is overseeing the existing Gilbert Building development works, will undertake the fit-out project with construction scheduled to start next month and completion expected early in 2012. We hope that this new ward at the Women's and Children's Hospital will make a difficult time in the lives of sick South Australian children and their families a little brighter.

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