South Australia to Inaugurate Upscale Hospital

The new Royal Adelaide Hospital, the largest ever undertaken in Australia, will provide South Australia with a center for major emergencies such as heart attacks and stroke, as well as serving as the complex multi-trauma destination for the state.

The new RAH has been designed to accommodate 700 single beds, with a capacity of more than 80,000 patients per annum, and an emergency department (ED) capable of treating an extra 24,000 patients each year. In addition, there are 40 technical operating suites supported by 180 recovery bays, a 60-bed intensive care unit (ICU), and associated clinical support areas, including distributed diagnostic areas, a renal dialysis center, an oncology clinic, and a hyperbaric unit. A fleet of automatically guided vehicles will triage equipment and supplies throughout the hospital.


The hospital is designed around a patient-centered “journey to health” model, where clinical care is brought to the patient in their own bedrooms. Each RAH room is a healing environment incorporating an emphasis on privacy, passive surveillance, the opportunity to display artwork, and a place for visiting family to stay. The single en-suite rooms are designed for treatment and rehabilitation, with reduced risk of infection, and advanced information technology (IT) systems for improved patient safety and clinical and patient information.

A hospital-wide, purpose-designed information communication technology (ICT) engine integrates patient records, clinical systems, patient systems, and facility management support systems. Other technology features including patient weighing beds, wireless technology and equipment tracking capability, and intelligent information systems such as bedside entertainment and on-line meal ordering for patients. The ICT network and technology features are projected to make the RAH Australia’s most technologically advanced hospital.

“The opening of the state-of-the-art new Royal Adelaide Hospital will be one of the most significant events in our great state’s history. Moving to the new site is a huge undertaking for all involved, and I know the community is excited about the new hospital opening its doors to inpatients in September,” said South Australia Premier Jay Weatherill. “There’s been a huge amount of interest from the community, so we will be holding tour days so the public can see inside this wonderful facility for themselves sometime in July.”

The RAH design also incorporates an innovative ecological approach to office space, teaching and research facilities, and green spaces, with extensive environmentally sustainable design initiatives, including rainwater harvesting to be used to offset potable water requirements; high efficiency water fittings throughout the hospital; extensive water metering and reporting strategy to identify and manage water consumption; water sensitive landscaping; and a water efficient thermal plant.