Health Minister Michael Ferguson said the government would commit to permanently opening 12-bed Ward 4D. The move is an effort to ease pressure on the emergency department as part of the government’s Patients First initiative. 

Three new single rooms for vulnerable patients will also be constructed. Mr Ferguson will announce the new measures on Wednesday. He said LGH staff had gone “above and beyond” to ensure patient care. He said recruitment for additional health professionals would begin immediately.

Ward 4D had been used temporarily to ease congestion and was opened indefinitely in July last year. 

“The cost of securing Ward 4D is expected to be $880,000 this financial year, and will be backed by a further $1 million capital investment this year, to support more single rooms,” he said. 

LGH staff were concerned about access to care, a review of EDs released on Monday revealed. 

Staff surveys conducted in August, 2016, found LGH staff felt poor access to inpatient beds and delays in the ED made “maintaining quality of care” difficult for staff, the report said. 

The survey was conducted after nine of 11 emergency consultants at the LGH resigned, retired or reduced their hours within a month in mid-2016. 

Mr Ferguson on Tuesday announced 27 new beds would be opened across three locations in the South over the next two months.