Hospital build passes another milestone

The slab is poured for Murray Bridge hospital's new emergency department. What's next?

The slab has been poured – now the only way is up for the Murray Bridge hospital's new emergency department.

State Health Minister Stephen Wade visited the construction site today to inspect the progress being made first-hand.

Steel beams will begin going up at the site next week.

The new department will be more than twice the size of the old one, with two resuscitation bays, seven treatment bays, a dedicated waiting room, separate quiet room and relatives' room, two procedure rooms and two consulting rooms, among other features.

"The (Steven) Marshall Liberal government is committed to ensuring that Murray Bridge Soldiers' Memorial Hospital continues to operate at the highest standards, both now and into the future," Mr Wade said.

Riverland Mallee Coorong Local Health Network chief executive officer Wayne Champion said the old emergency department had been small, poorly configured and ill equipped to meet the needs of the Murraylands' growing population.

By the time the new department was finished, he said, locals would have access to "the best possible emergency care when they need it".

The state government is spending $7 million on the development, which is expected to be finished in December.

Photos: Peri Strathearn.