Thousands of South Australians are set to benefit from faster access to medical imaging, with a major expansion of South Australia Medical Imaging (SAMI) underway at the Repat Health Precinct in Daw Park.
Backed by an investment of more than $11 million from the State Government, the project will significantly increase imaging capacity at the site with the installation of a new Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) scanner, an additional Computed Tomography (CT) scanner and three new ultrasound scanners.
Scheduled to open by the end of the year, the upgraded facilities are expected to deliver an additional 18,000 medical imaging appointments annually, easing pressure on Adelaide’s southern health network and reducing waiting times for patients.
Once operational, the expanded service will provide up to 160 ultrasound appointments, 120 CT appointments and 80 MRI appointments every week.
The majority of these additional appointments will support outpatient referrals from Flinders Medical Centre, helping patients receive scans sooner and speeding up preparation for procedures and ongoing treatment.
The introduction of MRI services at the Repat is also expected to improve care for inpatients, with around 250 patients each year no longer needing to be transferred to Flinders Medical Centre or the Royal Adelaide Hospital for MRI scans.
Building works are progressing within the existing SAMI footprint at the Daw Park site, with accessible patient parking available close to the upgraded facilities.
The expansion is also creating 27 new jobs across medical, nursing, allied health and administrative roles to support the increased demand.
In addition to expanding capacity, the project will introduce some of the country’s most advanced imaging technology. Two next-generation Photon-Counting CT scanners will be installed, making South Australia home to some of Australia’s most sophisticated CT imaging equipment.
The technology delivers clearer images while exposing patients to lower radiation doses and improving the detection of disease, giving clinicians greater diagnostic accuracy.
“The Malinauskas Labor Government has invested more than $30 million in the revitalisation of the Repat since coming to government in 2022, delivering 32 extra beds and committing to the expansion of medical imaging services at Daw Park,” said Health and Wellbeing Minister Blair Boyer.
“The cutting-edge equipment being delivered as part of the SAMI expansion, will place South Australia at the forefront of medical imaging technology across the country.”
Clinical Services Director at SA Medical Imaging, Associate Professor Marc Agzarian, added, “The service our skilled SA Medical Imaging teams provide to the public health system is invaluable, and we are proud to soon be able to assist more South Australian patients than ever before at the Repatriation Health Precinct.
“Importantly, the installation of this new equipment and the expansion of our services will allow more residents of Adelaide’s South to access the imaging they need within a public service, in a timely manner and close to home.”
Acting Program Director of Neuroscience and Rehabilitation Lindsay Briscoe said, “The expansion of SAMI’s imaging services will create a more seamless patient journey for people receiving care through the Brain Injury Rehabilitation Unit and the Spinal Rehabilitation Unit.
“By providing imaging services on the Repat Health Precinct, patients can access diagnostics closer to where they receive their care, reducing unnecessary transfers between sites and supporting safer, more seamless care.”
The expansion is the latest investment in the continued redevelopment of the Repat Health Precinct, strengthening its role as a key healthcare hub for Adelaide’s southern suburbs while improving access to essential diagnostic services closer to home.
