A surge in public hospital presentations across Adelaide has forced health authorities to develop new strategies to cope with ever-rising demand.
Figures released on Wednesday show 107,000 people presented to major metropolitan hospitals from January to March this year, usually the quieter summer period.
That was higher than the 102,000 presentations during winter last year when demand is normally expected to peak.
It has forced the state government to ditch the traditional winter demand strategy, when extra resources are deployed, to look at ways to cope with the increasing pressures.
"We know demand on public hospitals is increasing each year and what used to be seasonal demand is now year-round," Health Minister Stephen Wade said.
"We treated almost 5000 more patients in the first quarter of this year compared to last winter.
"Facing this reality, we are changing the way we manage demand and patient flow in our hospitals by launching a new hospital demand management plan.
"We need to ensure there's a range of strategies in place to manage peaks in demand, no matter what season or time of the year it is."
Those strategies include the provision of extra beds along with more education to help people avoid a hospital visit and alternative care options.
Mr Wade said the government's approach was starting to pay dividends with 32 long-stay patients moved to alternative accommodation and 200 more receiving out-of-hospital care.
About 100 patients have also linked to GP and community services through a pilot program in Adelaide's north.
The government has also opened a 10-bed psychiatric intensive care unit at the Royal Adelaide Hospital, along with 12 acute care beds at the Noarlunga Hospital.
"All of these programs, combined with the ongoing hard work of our dedicated clinicians and staff across the health system, will ensure South Australians receive the appropriate care and treatment they need in a timely manner this winter and beyond," Mr Wade said.
Australian Associated Press
