I’m pleased to see these much-needed upgrades to the Port Pirie Hospital’s Emergency Department.
This will provide quality care for our community and provide clinicians with a modern and fit-for-purpose ED.
The upgraded helipad will also improve emergency medical access and the clinical services lab will help develop a pipeline of clinicians for our region.
MEDIA RELEASE Friday 14 March 2025
Chris Picton MP - Minister for Health and Wellbeing
Works underway on $15.6 million upgrade to Port Pirie Hospital
A bigger and more modern Emergency Department is part of the Malinauskas Government’s $15.6 million upgrade of Port Pirie Hospital to improve rapid access to emergency healthcare in the region.
Construction on a new Port Pirie Hospital Emergency Department (ED) started in January this year. The new ED will be 700 square metres, much bigger than the existing ED which is 450 square metres, and is approximately 33 years old.
The new Port Pirie Hospital ED will include two resuscitation bays, eight patient treatment bays, a low stimulation room and a new ED entrance with patient admission and consulting areas.
This new build will deliver a modern, fit-for-purpose ED, with its design to use lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic to support community safety and health system resilience. The design is aimed at providing a better patient experience while also improving infection control.
Residents of Port Pirie and surrounding areas were invited to have their say on the new ED design through the Development Planning Consent process before construction of the upgrade started.
This is the largest development undertaken at the hospital since the major GP Plus development which opened in November 2013.
The demand on the ED is expected to increase in the future from almost 12,000 presentations in 2018-19, to more than 14,000 presentations by 2031-32.
Plans are also in place for work to improve helipad access and build a Clinical Stimulation Training Laboratory.
Changes to the helipad at Port Pirie Hospital will improve accessibility, ensuring rural communities can access essential care in emergency situations.
Construction on the $2.3 million upgrade to the existing helipad has begun and is expected to be completed by the middle of the year to meet new aviation helipad standards, with helicopter operations expected to resume by the end of the year.
Also commencing later this year is construction on a brand-new Clinical Simulation Training Laboratory that will help students on their hospital placements develop hands-on skills while learning in a safe, standardised and consistent learning environment.
The Clinical Simulation Training Lab will allow for cost-effective training in various clinical settings within the laboratory, from hospitals to long-term care facilities.
The $5 million laboratory project – announced in the 2024 State Budget - is expected to commence in the second half of 2025.
This training centre, led by local facilitators, will be part of a new Multi-Professional Simulated Training and Development (MPSTD) Service.
The MPSTD Service will provide a local environment for medical, nursing, allied health clinicians and other clinical students to undertake simulated learning while on placement at Port Pirie Hospital.
Quotes attributable to Chris Picton
The Malinauskas Government is providing access to quality healthcare services by funding upgrades to South Australian hospitals and centres.
The Emergency Department development is important for the community of Port Pirie and will ensure they have access to a high-class Accident & Emergency facility for many years to come.
Creating a modern and fit-for-purpose ED, training facility and helipad will encourage healthcare workers to continue providing care in our rural communities.
Quotes attributable to Geoff Brock, Member for Stuart
I’m pleased to see these much-needed upgrades to the Port Pirie Hospital’s Emergency Department.
This will provide quality care for our community and provide clinicians with a modern and fit-for-purpose ED.
The upgraded helipad will also improve emergency medical access and the clinical services lab will help develop a pipeline of clinicians for our region.
Quotes attributable to Yorke and Northern Local Health Network Chief Executive Officer, Roger Kirchner
We are thrilled about the new developments at the Port Pirie Hospital ED that will ensure continued high-quality healthcare for people within the York and Northern Local Health Network.
Improving health care in our region is a priority and we are excited to see the positive impact of numerous developments at Port Pirie Hospital, such as the brand-new Clinical Simulation Training Laboratory, that will provide more opportunities for learning.
