KAPUNDA Hospital’s surgical theatre and labour ward will be temporarily out of action, during the refurbishment of the surgical theatre’s sterilisation facility.

Health and wellbeing minister Stephen Wade said the $630,000 upgrades to the Kapunda Hospital’s Central Sterile Services Department (CSSD) will deliver safer and more efficient care for patients, closer to home.

“Kapunda Hospital provides surgical services to a number of patients each year, which is why it's important that we undertake these upgrades now to ensure we can continue to deliver modern and high quality surgical services in the future,” he said.

While the sterilisation upgrades occur, the surgical theatre and labour ward will both be temporarily unavailable.

A functioning operating theatre is needed to ensure safe birthing services in an emergency.

Barossa Hills Fleurieu Local Health Network chief executive Rebecca Graham said patients will still be able to access all other services, including emergency services.

“We are working with around 25 women who are expected to birth during this period to ensure they are supported in making alternative arrangements and in the instance a woman in labour presents to Kapunda Hospital during this period they will be transferred to Gawler Health Service,” she said.

“All antenatal care, and if needed, appropriate antenatal admissions, will continue to be provided at Kapunda Hospital, with midwives available to provide community midwifery visits at home post-birth.

“We are also working closely with those patients requiring surgery during this time to relocate them to another suitable hospital.

“We appreciate the community’s understanding and patience during this time and we look forward to sharing these upgrades with our staff, patients and their families soon.”

Works to upgrade the Kapunda CSSD and theatre are expected to be completed by late June 2021, with the contract for the works awarded to Pascale Construction.