South Australians will get better health services, closer to home, following the opening of a new Statewide Rehabilitation Services Building at the Repat, as part of the $125 million revitalisation of the health precinct.
The 48-bed Brain Injury and Spinal Cord Rehabilitation facility will significantly enhance rehabilitation services for patients, including a range of integrated services to support South Australians preparing for their transition to the community.
Premier Steven Marshall said the building’s opening marked another important milestone in the Government’s revitalisation of the Repat.
“Since coming to Government we have been committed to reactivating the Repat and returning the site to the thriving health precinct that South Australians need and deserve,” said Premier Marshall.
“This state-of-the-art facility will complement other rehabilitation services that have been returned to the Repat Health Precinct, including the recently completed sports stadium and Town Square community space.
“Our investment in health services will ensure the Repat is once again providing health services to the local community that clinicians, stakeholders and all South Australians can be proud of.”
“The Repat is one part of our record health spend which is expanding emergency departments throughout the state and boosting our health workforce to unprecedented numbers to ensure South Australians get the care they need, where and when it’s needed.”
Federal Minister for Health and Aged Care, Greg Hunt, was delighted with the outcome and said it will help deliver state-of-the-art treatment for brain and spinal rehabilitation patients.
“The Morrison Governments investment will help support making a patient’s transition to the community easier, giving them access to specialised services whilst they are waiting to go home, Minister Hunt said.
“Our Governments funding, and partnership with the Marshall Government ensures South Australians have access to a world class health system.”
Minister for Health and Wellbeing Stephen Wade said rehabilitation patients will access the family-centred service in a newly built 24-bed Brain Injury Rehab Unit and 24-bed Spinal Rehab Unit, where all patients will have single rooms with an ensuite.
“Since Labor closed the Repat when Peter Malinauskas was Health Minister, we scrapped the sale of the site and $125 million has been invested to revitalise the precinct as a vital part of South Australia’s future health system,” Minister Wade said.
“This is an exciting milestone in the return of health services to the Repat, where essential rehabilitation services will now be co-located with a range of modern facilities to support patients to successfully transition to the community.
“The new Rehabilitation Services Building includes accommodation for families to stay overnight in preparation for a return to home, and access to the recently-opened sports stadium for supported access to therapy, wheelchair sports and for recreational use.
“The return of integrated health services at the Repat includes the Repat Veteran Wellbeing Centre which opened in June, and the Repat Neuro-Behavioural Unit, which provides care to South Australians living with advanced dementia.
“Labor closed the Repat as a part of its disastrous Transforming Health agenda, but the Marshall Liberal Government, along with the Commonwealth, has invested $125 million to revitalise the precinct as an important part of health service delivery in South Australia.”
Central Adelaide Local Health Network Executive Director Capital Projects and Planning, Rachael Kay, said the purpose-built Brain Injury and Spinal Cord Injury Rehabilitation facility is patient-centred and designed to complement rehabilitation services and optimise recovery.
“The new facility features lots of natural light, internal courtyards and multiple shared spaces for socialising and recreational activities where patients can be joined by family and friends, supporting a broader sense of community,” said Ms Kay.
“Rooms in our Spinal Rehab Unit are equipped with accessible desks and integrated lifting equipment, and daybeds in our Brain Injury Rehab Unit rooms, to create a functional space that supports patient wellbeing.
“The Statewide Rehabilitation Services Building will offer comprehensive inpatient and outpatient rehabilitation programs as well as a number of speciality programs delivered by a multidisciplinary team of clinicians. The move will see over 250 staff and up to 48 inpatients transition to the new facility.”
Spinal Cord Injury and Brain Injury Rehabilitation services are moving from Hampstead Rehabilitation Centre to the Repat Health Precinct Tuesday 15 February 2022.
The $125 million revitalisation of the Repat Health Precinct includes $40 million of Commonwealth funding.
For more information on the Government’s revitalisation of the Repat Health Precinct visit sahealth.sa.gov.au.
