New Royal Adelaide Hospital to be completed in July 2016
The State Government and the SA Health Partnership consortium have today confirmed a revised timeframe for the completion of the new Royal Adelaide Hospital.
Minister for Health Jack Snelling said completion of the new hospital would now occur in July 2016, with the move from the current hospital rescheduled to occur by November 2016.
“The revised timetable follows extensive discussions with the SA Health Partnership consortium, our staff and unions,” Mr Snelling said.
“While the hospital will now be completed in July, the safety of our patients and staff is our first concern, and the advice we have received from our doctors, nurses and allied health professionals is that it would not be safe to move to
the new hospital during the busy winter period.
“The last two winters have seen high demand across our health system as we have battled record influenza numbers.
“Our hospital staff have worked extremely hard in challenging circumstances, and moving the state’s biggest hospital during this time would add additional pressures.
“This is why we have listened to our doctors, nurses and allied health professionals and decided to defer moving to the new site until after the peak winter season is over.
“Our discussions with the SA Health Partnership consortium have been very productive and we will continue to work closely with them.
“The new Royal Adelaide Hospital will be Australia’s most advanced hospital and I look forward to it providing high quality health care to South Australians for generations to come.”
The revised completion date has occurred following unforeseen site issues that required additional remediation works and some project delays.
Negotiations between the State Government and the SA Health Partnership consortium regarding unforeseen remediation works and time delays have now concluded, with both parties accepting responsibility.
As a result of these discussions the additional cost to the State Government for remediation, site modifications and the new timeframe is $34.3 million.
SA Health Partnership Chief Executive Officer, Duncan Jewell, said the outcome of the recent discussions was one both parties could be happy with.
“Our working relationship with the State Government has always been a positive one,” Mr Jewell said.
“We have now resolved these unforseen site issues and over the next 12 months we will work closely with SA Health to ensure a safe, smooth and successful transition to the new Royal Adelaide Hospital.”
The new hospital will open by November, with a definitive moving date to be announced next year.
For more information about the new Royal Adelaide Hospital visit www.newrah.sa.gov.au
Source: News Release, Government of South Australia, 17 September, 2015
http://www.premier.sa.gov.au/images/news_releases/2015/15_09Sep/newrahcompletionrevised.pdf