Sixteen additional urgent and transitional care beds will be introduced across Adelaide as hospitals prepare for increased winter demand.
The measures include six beds at the Repat Health Precinct and 10 beds for patients waiting to move from hospital into permanent aged care.
The Southern Adelaide Local Health Network’s Urgent Health CARE Service for older people at the Repat will also expand to operate 24 hours a day, allowing patients to stay overnight rather than being sent to an emergency department.
From mid-July, an additional 10 Care Awaiting Placement beds will become available through Resthaven Aged Care Homes.
The beds are intended for patients who no longer require hospital-level treatment but are not well enough to return home while waiting for residential aged care.
The State Government says the arrangement will help free up capacity at Flinders Medical Centre.
There are currently 445 older South Australians in the health system waiting for a residential aged care placement, according to government figures.
In Adelaide’s northeast, a transition care service at College Grove is expected to open its 50th bed in August. The service, run through a partnership between the Central Adelaide Local Health Network and Amplar Health, includes memory support for patients with complex needs.
The additional beds form part of South Australia’s 2026 Winter Demand Plan, which also includes expanded virtual care services and partnerships with health and aged care providers.
A public information campaign launched on Sunday, July 12, encouraging people with less serious illnesses and injuries to consider services outside hospital emergency departments.
The Where to get care campaign lists options including Medicare Urgent Care Clinics, GP clinics, pharmacies, Medicare Mental Health Centres, nurse-led clinics and virtual care services.
Emergency departments remain the appropriate option for serious illnesses, injuries and medical emergencies.
Health and Wellbeing Minister Blair Boyer said winter demand placed additional pressure on hospitals and healthcare workers.
“Our emergency departments are there for people experiencing serious injury, severe illness and medical emergencies, but we know many people can receive safe, high-quality care through other services,” he said.
Government figures show emergency department arrivals have increased by more than 50 per cent since 2012, compared with population growth of about 15 per cent.
However, the announcement comes as South Australia continues to face broader pressure across its hospital and aged care systems, including delays transferring older patients into permanent residential care.
More information about available health services can be found through the Where to get care SA website or by calling 1800MEDICARE on 1800 633 422.
