The South Australian Government has officially kicked off the construction of the new $39.2 million redevelopment of the Port Lincoln Hospital.

State Health Minister, Jack Snelling, said that the Commonwealth funded redevelopment will include a range of cutting edge facilities and services for the people of the Lower Eyre Peninsula.

“The redevelopment of Port Lincoln Hospital will mean more people can have their treatments closer to home and reduce the amount of travel to Adelaide,” Mr Snelling said.

“The new ward will replace the existing Flinders Ward and see existing shared facilities replaced with single rooms with ensuite bathrooms.

“A new six-bed inpatient mental health unit will enable people with an acute mental illness to be admitted and will be staffed by new mental health staff and clinicians.

“The new buildings for community health and allied health services will include seven public dental chairs and additional consulting rooms and interview suites.”

Mr Snelling said a renal unit with a State Government funding of $800,000 and a chemotherapy unit with Commonwealth Government funding of $500,000 will also be built at the same time.

Up to 100 construction workers are expected to be on site at the peak of construction while Managing Contractor Mossop Construction + Interiors moved on to the site last week.