CONCEPT plans for the multi-million-dollar redevelopment of Gawler Hospital’s emergency department (ED) have been revealed.

The release comes as a local MP hit out at a shortage of ED beds to meet demand, and said the project was “poorly funded”.

Announced in October last year, the $15 million investment will increase the number of treatment beds from four to 16.

The expanded ED will be built between the Country Health Connect entrance and attach onto the building housing the ED at present.

Carpark 4 will make way for the new building, with the Gate 2 entrance for ambulance triage.

According to the concept plans, patients will enter the ED from the Carpark 5 entrance. Barossa Hills Fleurieu Local Health Network chief executive Rebecca Graham said the network was “pleased” to share the plans.

She said the expanded ED would “improve access to emergency services and provide better healthcare” for Gawler residents.

“Throughout the planning, our focus has been on engaging and consulting with various stakeholders groups, including health service clinicians and staff, the Health Advisory Council and members of the community to design a facility that is equipped to provide urgent, life-saving care,” she said.

“We know the demand for emergency services in Gawler is increasing, and this expanded facility will play a key role in meeting the growing needs of the community.”

New features of the building include new designated spaces for children and adults, and triage assessment rooms.

As the world grapples with a COVID-normal society, measures to combat the spread of disease have been included.

A “negative-pressure” treatment bay has been included in the concepts, allowing patients who present with infectious disease symptoms to receive care in isolation.

Health Minister Stephen Wade said the ED would “play a critical role” in meeting demand locally.

“We know there is increasing demand for health services in Gawler and surrounding communities,” he said.

“…the upgrade and expansion to the Gawler Health Service ED will play a critical role in meeting emergency demand in the region and will benefit thousands of patients in need of urgent, life-saving care.”

However, Member for Light Tony Piccolo challenged the design after documents released under Freedom of Information showed there would be a shortage of beds to meet demand.

The documents, released at the direction of the Ombudsman, showed the ED would be five treatment beds short, which was expected to rise to 11 by 2036.

Mr Piccolo described the project as “poorly- funded” and a “knee-jerk response” to lobbying by local doctors.

“The proposal has been designed to fit a poorly funded budget and not the needs of local residents,” he said.

“Of greater concern is there is no existing commitment to fund additional staff to cater for the additional beds, nor an increase in beds in the main part of the hospital.

“…having a brand-new emergency department is great, but we need more doctors, more nurses and also more than one ambulance to service the area.”

Officials from SA Health were quizzed last week when the plans went before State Parliament’s Public Works Committee.

Presentations to the ED are expected to grow to more than 24,000 by 2031, according to SA Health. This is due to a significant population increase.

Mr Piccolo said he had concerns the project had been “rushed” and was not fit to cope with increased demand.

“From what I can gather, at that time the budget was set for this project, there were no designs or locations identified at the time,” he said.

“That does raise questions about whether this project is designed to fit a budget or whether the budget actually reflects the true projected needs of this community.

“As an example, I understand the budget has already been increased by somewhere between $1.5 million and $2 million to allow for a lift in the building which actually wasn’t budgeted for.”

The plans released to The Bunyip by SA Health show a space for a “future lift lobby” but no other access point to the upper level.

SA Health told the committee tenders for the project would be released next April or May, with construction anticipated for July.

Completion of the project is not expected before the end of 2023, with a staged approach being taken to ensure the current ED remains in operation during construction.