{"id":2367,"date":"2019-04-17T20:51:18","date_gmt":"2019-04-17T20:51:18","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.16news.com.au\/?p=2367"},"modified":"2019-04-17T20:51:18","modified_gmt":"2019-04-17T20:51:18","slug":"whyalla-hospital-to-get-new-11m-accident-and-emergency-facility","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.16news.com.au\/index.php\/2019\/04\/17\/whyalla-hospital-to-get-new-11m-accident-and-emergency-facility\/","title":{"rendered":"Whyalla Hospital to get new $11M Accident and Emergency Facility"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Morrison Government will invest $11.4 million to expand and redevelop the Whyalla Hospital & Health Services accident and emergency department.
\nFunding from the Government\u2019s Community Health and Hospitals Program (CHHP) will help reduce operational pressures and enable the hospital to meet the growing demand in the region.
\nMinister for Health, Greg Hunt said the Government is committed to improving health services throughout Australia and building a world class health system.
\n\u201cAustralians living in rural areas face unique challenges brought on by distance,\u201d Minister Hunt said.
\n\u201cFrom our investment, regional communities will have improved access to essential health care services closer to home.\u201d
\nThe high dependency ward at Whyalla Hospital will also be relocated closer to the accident and emergency area, improving safety and ensuring nursing and medical staff can be utilised effectively across both areas according to clinical need and patient demand.
\nFederal Member for Grey, Rowan Ramsey said the new facility will mean more emergency treatment spaces and an improved patient experience.
\n\u201cThe Government\u2019s investment will enable the relocation of the high dependency unit which will deliver significant efficiencies with in the hospital,\u201d Mr Ramsey said.
\n\u201cThis is particularly important in growing areas such as Whyalla.\u201d
\n\u201cThrough locally targeted funding support, we can ensure SA is better equipped to tackle key health challenges of concern to people in Whyalla,\u201d Mr Ramsey said.
\nJoining Mr Ramsey in Whyalla for the announcement, South Australian Minister for Health and Wellbeing Stephen Wade said the investment comes at a critical time – ahead of an expected boom in Whyalla\u2019s population.
\n\u201cAs Whyalla embarks on an ambitious upgrade to its steelworks and local infrastructure thanks to billionaire Sanjeev Gupta, it\u2019s clear the Whyalla Hospital & Health Services needs expanded and contemporary facilities to meet the needs of the growing population.
\n\u201cOver the past eight years, emergency presentations have increased by 15 per cent, and presentations per capita have increased by 21 per cent.
\n\u201cCompared to industry benchmarks, the number of treatment spaces is around a third below the number needed for the current demand.
\n\u201cIt\u2019s clear that an upgrade of the emergency department is desperately overdue so I\u2019m extremely grateful to the Morrison Government for this much-needed investment.
\nEstablished in 2018, the Liberal National Government\u2019s $1.25 billion Community Health and Hospitals Fund supports:<\/p>\n