Nexus Hospitals to build surgical facility in South Australia

MedTech News: Residents of the southern suburbs are set to benefit from the return of surgical services to the Repat Health Precinct, as the Marshall Liberal Government continues to deliver on its commitment to reactivate the Repat as a thriving health precinct. 

Premier Steven Marshall said surgery will be returned through a partnership with Nexus Hospitals, after the healthcare provider was selected as the preferred proponent to build a new facility and provide surgical and procedural services. 

“This Government has recognised the essential need to reactivate the Repat and return the site to a thriving health precinct to provide better health services, closer to home, for the surrounding community,” said Premier Marshall. 

“Since Peter Malinauskas closed the Repat as Health Minister under the former Labor Government, we scrapped the sale of the site and are investing $115 million to revitalise the precinct as a vital part of South Australia’s future health system. 

“Our investment at the Repat forms part of a record $7.4 billion investment in our state’s health system to help fix ramping, ease pressure on hospital emergency departments and deliver quality health care for South Australians, closer to home. 

“Our agreement with Nexus will increase capacity across our health network and make high demand services available onsite at the Repat, such as ophthalmology, orthopaedic, plastics and reconstructive, ear, nose and throat, general surgery, urology and colonoscopy procedures.” 

Minister for Health and Wellbeing Stephen Wade said “the Marshall Government has a range of strategies and partnerships to meet the healthcare needs of our communities and partnering with Nexus and continuing the reactivation of the Repat are both vital contributors to achieve this.” 

“The Marshall Liberal Government has committed more than $115 million to the revitalisation of the Repat and we will be investing a further $5 million towards capital works to prepare the site for Nexus to construct a new, purpose built Surgical Facility and multi-deck car park. 

“We know that demand for renal dialysis is increasing significantly and, with this in mind, we have ensured that a 20-chair renal dialysis unit will be included in the new facility also.

“This partnership for the new Surgical Facility continues our strong progress towards revitalising the Repat and returning the site to an integrated, collaborative, patient focused health precinct that the community can be proud of.” 

The Government will also invest more than $413 million over ten years for Nexus to deliver services from the new facility, which we expect to significantly help to reduce waiting lists across our health system and ensure we can meet demand for health care into the future. 

Nexus Hospitals Chief Executive Officer, Andrew Petering, said Nexus has a respected history of healthcare provision and partnerships with government agencies, operating 16 hospitals nationally, including the Tennyson Centre Day Hospital in South Australia. 

“We are pleased to partner with the Government to expand our delivery of healthcare services to South Australians,” said Mr Petering. 

“Working together, we have developed an agreed concept and site plan which will see us construct a $95 million Surgical Facility and new multi-deck car park at the Repat. 

“The facility will include up to six theatres, 30 bed overnight capacity, a 20-chair renal dialysis unit, a GP clinic, a community pharmacy and space for specialist medical and other allied health services. 

“Nexus looks forward to progressing planning for the new facility and working closely with SA Health to deliver the best possible outcomes for patients and the South Australian community.” 

SA Health will carry out demolition work, complete in-ground service works and upgrades to internal roads and pathways in preparation for construction of the new facility and car park. 

Nexus will be provided with a 50 year ground lease for the portion of land within the Repat Health Precinct designated for the new Surgical Facility and car park. 

Demolition works have started on site and the preparatory works are expected to be completed by April 2022. Construction of the new facility is then expected to start in the second half of 2022.