A floor of a luxury Adelaide hotel is being used to house hospital patients as the state’s health system struggles to deal with increased pressures.
An entire level of the Pullman Hotel has been converted into a temporary ward, accommodating 80 patients in the two months since its opening.
Health Minister Chris Picton stated that the initiative is beneficial for patients, advantageous for the healthcare system, and positively impacts the budget, reflecting patients’ approval of the system.
“The longer I’ve been here, it feels like a family. They bring my coffee in the morning and know exactly what I want,” expressed patient Ashleigh Mann.
However, the South Australian branch of the Australian Medical Association (AMA) is concerned about the approach.
“It’s not a long-term solution,” AMA president Dr John Williams said.
“We really need more aged care beds.”
The AMA held a meeting to address the broader crisis, seeking “real solutions that help the clinicians on the ground.”
Ramping, where ambulances are delayed in transferring patients to emergency departments, continues to be a significant issue in South Australia.
Although patients spent 3700 hours on ramps last month, which was a slight reduction from March, Williams remarked, “The change isn’t significant, and I believe we’ve become accustomed to ramping.”
The state government says it could expand its transition care plan, meaning more Adelaide hotels could soon be taking on patients.
