South Australians are getting their first look inside the future Women’s and Children’s Hospital, with new flyover footage revealing interior previews as construction milestones stack up on one of the state’s most significant health infrastructure projects.
Premier Peter Malinauskas says the release of the flyover marks an exciting step forward as the eight-storey car park nears completion, with construction now underway on level seven. When finished, the structure will provide 1,300 parking spaces — almost 40 per cent more than the current hospital — easing access for families, patients and staff.
The flyover offers the first public glimpse of what the new hospital will look like inside, ahead of main building works commencing later this year. Inground and structural construction on the hospital itself is scheduled to begin before the end of the year, with the entire project on track for completion by 2031.
Alongside physical construction, the project has entered a major planning phase with schematic design now underway. This includes the onboarding of new clinical advisors across Women’s and Babies, Surgical Services, Paediatric Medicine, Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services, and Sub-Acute and Allied Health. The focus of this stage is on patient flows, department functionality, and the placement of equipment and technology — with staff engagement continuing throughout all phases of the project.
Once complete, the new hospital will deliver a significant boost in capacity. It will feature 414 overnight beds — 56 more than the existing hospital — with the ability to add a further 20 beds in the future. The site will also support 25 per cent additional overall capacity, including a larger Emergency Department, a women’s ICU co-located with the Paediatric ICU, five additional operating theatres, and expanded oncology services, with overnight oncology beds doubling from nine to 18.
Neonatal Services are set to see some of the most meaningful improvements. The new design includes five additional neonatal cots, with single rooms throughout the unit to support intensive, high dependency and special care for vulnerable babies. Larger rooms will replace shared cot spaces, creating a more comfortable environment for longer stays and allowing parents to remain close to their newborns.
The redesigned NICU will feature in-room parent accommodation, increased privacy for breastfeeding, reduced noise, access to natural light and external views, and adjoining rooms for families with multiple births. Dedicated visitor lifts and carefully planned glazing will improve clinical efficiency while clearly separating public and clinical flows. Outdoor spaces within the unit will also allow babies and families to spend time outside in a safe, clinically equipped setting.
Premier Malinauskas says the project is being designed with longevity in mind, describing it as a hospital planned not just for today, but for the next century of care for South Australian women, children and families. Acting Women’s and Children’s Health Network CEO Rachael Yates adds that the larger, individual rooms will support both privacy during challenging times and space for moments of joy and celebration. Construction partner Lendlease says progress on the car park and schematic design reflects strong momentum as the project moves into its next major phase.
