Murray Bridge Soldiers' Memorial Hospital $7-million emergency department upgrade has been given the stamp of approval by the state government, with work expected to begin in coming months.
Health and Wellbeing Minister Stephen Wade said the state Parliament's Public Works Committee recently signed off on final plans for the project.
"The redevelopment and expansion of the hospital's emergency department will deliver state-of-the-art health services to the people of Murray Bridge and the surrounding regions," he said.
"The existing ED faces real challenges in terms of meeting the increased emergency demand in the Murray Bridge region."
The new, purpose-built ED will be more than twice the size of the existing ED and provide high quality and efficient health care services that directly align to the needs of patients.
Member for Hammond Adrian Pederick said it was exciting to see the project moving forward after extensive consultation with clinicians and other key health stakeholders in the Murray Bridge region to finalise the concept plans.
"This project is especially important given the expected massive growth in tourism and industry in Murray Bridge and surrounding areas in the coming years," he said.
"I look forward to a builder being appointed and construction getting under way in the coming months."
While the Murray Bridge Soldiers' Memorial Hospital had just over 6,600 emergency presentations in 2016-17, this figure is expected to grow to 14,500 presentations by 2026.
Riverland Mallee Coorong local health network board chair Peter Joyner said the emergency department project was an exciting opportunity for the region.
"This will boost the capability of health services to ensure that people in the southern half of the Riverland Mallee Coorong Region can access the best possible emergency care when they need it," he said.
Riverland Mallee Coorong local health network chief executive officer Wayne Champion said that approval of the upgrade plans was an important milestone.
"The redeveloped ED will include two resuscitation bays and seven treatment bays - four more than currently available," he said.
"The new ED will also include a dedicated waiting room for patients and a separate quiet room for vulnerable patients, two procedure rooms, two consulting rooms, an ambulance lobby, nurses' station, access toilet and shower facilities, and a room for relatives."
Construction tenders will now be finalised and construction of the new ED is expected to commence in the coming months.
