The recent announcement of a new, larger site for the New Women’s and Children’s Hospital (New WCH) has created a real buzz amongst the staff and is a welcome upgrade from the previous design.

As a clinician having worked for the Women’s and Children’s Hospital (WCH) for more than 20 years, the decision on the new location is a significant step forward in the project for everyone involved.

The bigger site will allow for greater capacity, which is incredibly exciting not only for staff but of course for South Australian women, their babies and children, who will continue to receive the highest quality care in a new, modern, world-class facility.

The New WCH has a footprint double the size of the current WCH and the previously selected site, which will enable greater flexibility to meet clinical needs and to incorporate the additional 70 beds committed by the State Government.

The New WCH on the Barracks site is in a central location within Adelaide’s BioMed City Precinct, enabling us to enhance clinical linkages with the Royal Adelaide Hospital (RAH) and providing us with opportunities to expand in the future as our state’s population grows.

From a clinical perspective, the opportunity to co-locate all our critical care services – birthing, operating theatres, 23-hour ward, and paediatric, neonatal and women’s intensive care units – all on one dedicated ‘hot floor’ will have major benefits for our patients and staff. Co-location of these acute services on a single floor has been highlighted as a key issue by clinicians and, with the additional space, the ability to incorporate this into the new design is a positive move.

The integration of a four-bed women’s intensive care unit (ICU) on our hot floor will be a significant feature of the New WCH. Our current service does not have a dedicated women’s ICU, which can necessitate transfer of very unstable women to other metropolitan hospitals, often meaning they are separated from their babies. Under our new model, it will be possible for the woman to be stabilised and continue to receive the care she requires at the New WCH, while remaining close to her newborn.

Further enhancing our critical care service design is the inclusion of a dedicated helipad for the New WCH, allowing maternity, neonatal and paediatric emergency cases to be airlifted directly to the hospital — eliminating the need for transport from the RAH.

I would like to personally thank all WCH staff, including my medical, nursing and midwifery and allied health colleagues, and members of the South Australian community who have taken the time and effort to provide valuable feedback for the New WCH design. Their significant expertise, time and effort has enabled us to reach this important point as we build the New WCH. The clinical planning that has already been undertaken will not be wasted and remains valuable as it will continue to inform the new Master Plan and the ongoing design process for our new hospital.

I have great confidence that the selected site for the New WCH will provide us with the space and resources we need to ensure South Australian women, babies and children continue to receive the highest quality health care for generations to come.

For more information, visit newwch.sa.gov.au.