Palliative care services at Adelaide’s soon to be closed Repatriation General Hospital are to be shifted to the Flinders Medical Centre.
The Government was planning to move the service to Noarlunga after closing the Repat but ditched the idea earlier this year after some resistance.
The decision to move health services and close the Repat has attracted criticism from Vietnam veterans who have spent the last 150 days protesting outside State Parliament.
Health Minister Jack Snelling said the $7 million floor will be added to a new rehabilitation building at Flinders to accommodate 15 terminally ill patients.
He said Daw House at the Repat was an ageing palliative care facility and the new location was approved by a working group set up by the Government.
“This new facility here at Flinders Medical Centre will have 100 per cent private rooms with a rooftop garden to allow patients to get the air on their face,” Mr Snelling said.
“So very, very pleased this is where the working group have landed and their recommendation to me and very happy we’ve been able to accommodate the recommendation,” he said.
Member of the working group Meg Brassil said Flinders was the best choice for the relocated palliative care service.
“I guess what it means is the new facility will ensure that the patient/family experience is much improved and the connection with the bigger hospital will mean the connection can spread through that,” she said.
The 55-bed new rehabilitation building replaces services currently being offered at the Repat.
A 1,240 space multi-deck car park will also be built at Flinders.
The Government said there will be some disruption to the existing car parking lot, used by staff, while construction was underway.