Media Release: AMA SA welcomes Labor’s aged care announcement but calls for clarity on timelines

AMA SA President Associate Professor Peter Subramaniam says South Australians now need clarity on when these measures will deliver real relief for the hospital system.

‘AMA SA welcomes any proposal that recognises the urgent need to expand aged care and transitional care capacity,’ A/Prof Subramaniam says.

‘These initiatives have the potential to reduce hospital logjam and ensure older South Australians receive care in the right setting.

A/Prof Subramaniam says repurposing older hospital facilities raises important questions about long-term costs and how additional beds will be integrated into an already stretched health system.

‘South Australians deserve transparent timelines for delivery, clear workforce plans, and honest detail about the costs of upgrading ageing infrastructure at the current WCH site.

‘We need to understand where the nurses, allied health staff and medical workforce will come from to safely operate these additional beds, otherwise we risk shifting pressure from one part of the system to another.’

A/Prof Subramaniam says the proposed benefits are unlikely to materialise until the new Women’s and Children’s Hospital is completed and services transition from the existing site.

‘These initiatives, while welcome, are unlikely to solve the immediate crisis. Patients and clinicians need a clear plan for what happens between now and then,’ A/Prof Subramaniam says.

‘AMA SA will continue to advocate for stronger investment in preventive health and GP-led community care – initiatives that allow older South Australians to remain at home longer, avoid unnecessary hospitalisation and help restore flow through the health system.’

Read AMA SA’s 2026 Election Priorities document here.

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