Women’s and Children’s Health Network CEO Lindsey Gough told reporters this morning that the 133 staff members who refused to get vaccinated came from across the health network, but she wasn’t aware of any doctors who had turned down vaccination.

She said the health network hadn’t experienced any staffing problems, with the majority of those who have refused to get vaccinated currently on leave.

“We will take a view as and when the individuals’ period of leave comes to an end and that will be in line with government and SA Health policy,” she said.

Healthcare workers at public hospitals in South Australia are now legally required to be at least partially vaccinated against COVID-19 and have evidence of a booking to get their second vaccine dose under a mandate that came into force yesterday.

Gough said her network had a business continuity plan in place that allowed it to continue to operate during “staffing shortfalls”.

“Because the people who aren’t vaccinated are spread so widely across the network, it’s not causing us a particular problem,” she said.

“We’re a large organisation and so 133 is a small number.”

Health Minister Stephen Wade said he didn’t know how many healthcare workers across other networks were refusing to get vaccinated.

He said the vaccination rates for staff at the Northern Adelaide and Flinders and Upper North Local Health Networks were “up around the 99 per cent”.

“In terms of the other networks, I think it’s important to appreciate that the numbers… (included) in their vaccination rates (are) people who are currently on maternity leave and other forms of leave,” he said.

“They wouldn’t be expected to be vaccinated until their return, so we’re very encouraged by the progress of the mandate thus far.

“I’m advised that none of our local health networks are experiencing any issues in terms of the delivery of clinical services as a result of the mandate kicking in yesterday.”

It comes after the State Government today released updated images of the new Women’s and Children’s Hospital showing where the different clinical spaces are proposed to fit across 12 levels.

Described by Wade as “high-level early concept drawings”, the images map out where the hospital’s various departments and services are proposed to be located inside the new $1.95 billion building once it opens to patients in 2027.

According to the plans, which are yet to be finalised, the Emergency Department would be located on level two next to the women’s assessment service and ambulance bay.

The main entrance would be located on level three, featuring an atrium allowing natural light into the building, as well as access to the neighbouring Royal Adelaide Hospital, car park and park lands.

Outpatient services, operating theatres and specialist units would be located on the upper levels.

The Government is also considering two design options for “hot floors” – areas which it says would house “crucial services” such as the paediatric and neonatal intensive care units, special care baby unit and the operating theatres.

Wade said architects and planners sought input from staff and patients before producing the draft layout, with the Government now urging others to submit feedback over the next three weeks before it finalises the internal layout.

He said the new Women’s and Children’s Hospital would be “physically larger than our current hospital with an additional 59 treatment spaces and 30 extra outpatient spaces”.

But doctors have previously criticised the plans, telling a parliamentary committee in April that the new hospital would be too small and lack facilities.

At the time, they said there were only 12 intensive care beds proposed for the new hospital – one less than exists currently – and there were no plans for a “simulation suite” to help train new doctors.

Gough said today that the Government was “eager to receive additional feedback from our clinicians, consumers and community”.

“National and overseas evidence shows the benefits of a vertically-designed hospital and the contemporary healthcare design will ensure the new facility will be adaptable and respond to the evolution of models of care, while supporting clinical safety, efficient patient flows, pandemic mode, and fast and reliable transfers,” she said.

“We know there is a lot more detailed architectural work to do such as finalising individual room sizes, workspace and office layouts and landscaping, but we are currently focused on getting the clinical spaces within the hospital right as our priority.”

Consultation on the plans is open for a three-week period closing on November 22.