The South Australian Government has reversed a decision to close Hampstead Rehabilitation Centre, a 120-bed facility 13km north of Adelaide's city centre, with more than 200 people waiting for an aged care bed lying in hospital.
Instead the Government's Care of the Older Person and Community Transition service will establish 70 beds at the facility, consisting of 50 beds for older hospital patients and 20 for low complexity Memory Support Unit patients.
Chris Picton
Building works are being fast-tracked and come as South Australian hospitals remain under intense pressure, with ambulance ramping surpassing a record 5,000 hours in July.
"Right now, there are more than 200 older South Australians who are waiting for an aged care bed who are medically ready to leave hospital. That’s the equivalent of the entire Modbury Hospital taken out of the system," said SA Minister for Health and Wellbeing Chris Picton.
"While the State Government is set to open more than 330 more beds by the end of next year, we need the Federal Government to meet their aged care responsibilities."
