News room – What’s been happening

Playford, Adelaide, Tuesday 25th February – A new $49 million specialist medical centre including comprehensive cancer care services has officially launched in the growing City of Playford, marking the completion of Stage 2 of the Playford Health Hub. 

The four-level building is South Australia’s first 6-Star-Green-Star designed medical building and is now offering cancer patients access to radiation therapy and medical oncology under one roof with the aim of simplifying cancer treatment schedules and reducing stress. On site specialists Clinpath Pathology and Radiology SA also offer a full range of diagnostic services to these patients, as well as the broader community. 

GenesisCare, a leading provider of cancer care is now treating patients at its newly opened radiation therapy centre at the Playford Health Hub, and joins the Calvary Connery Centre, which launched its services in the same building last year. The Calvary Connery Centre offers chemotherapy and haematology treatment services alongside Adelaide Oncology and Haematology (AOAH), which is part of the GenesisCare oncology network, offering medical oncology consulting services. The hub also offers cancer patients and the wider community access to specialists across the areas of cardiology, respiratory and sleep, ear nose and throat, orthopaedics, general medicine and surgery. 

Around 2,500 people are diagnosed with cancer in Adelaide’s north each year, according to statistics¹. The local population of the City of Playford has been expanding and between 2020 and 2036 the population is anticipated to grow 37% to reach 130,000 people², generating an increasing need for high-quality specialist medical services in Adelaide’s north. Modelling suggests that almost half of Australians (48.3%) diagnosed with cancer would benefit from radiation therapy³. 

Located across the road from the Lyell McEwin Public Hospital, the specialist medical centre is part of a multi-stage health precinct that will include a future private hospital and is expected to be constructed as Stage 3 of the development. Calvary Health Care is currently working through an early contractor involvement (ECI) to determine next steps. 

South Australian Minister for Health and Wellbeing, Chris Picton MP, said: “We welcome new health services in the north which complement the Malinauskas Labor Government’s expansion of health capacity for this growing population of Northern Adelaide. Private health providers such as GenesisCare play an important role in providing quality healthcare to South Australians, in addition to the services provided in the public health system. One such service is the Older Persons Emergency Review and Assessment (OPERA) centre, funded by the State Government and run by the Northern Adelaide Local Health Network at the Playford Health Hub. The OPERA service provides care to older people who would otherwise need to go to an emergency department, and frees up capacity at the Lyell McEwin Hospital. The cancer care services provided by GenesisCare at the Playford Health Hub complement the cancer care and treatment provided in the SA public system, and help South Australians who are impacted by cancer.”  

Former cancer patient Mary-Ann said: “As someone who has experienced cancer and cared for someone with cancer, I know that finding all your cancer services in the one centre can be a great mental relief for patients and their families. It can be stressful and sometimes costly travelling between different locations for different appointments.” 

GenesisCare General Manager for South Australia, Duy Tran, said: “For many patients, taking in a cancer diagnosis and undergoing treatment can be a challenging time in their lives. The newly completed specialist medical centre at the Playford Health Hub aims to simplify their treatment journey with comprehensive cancer care focus and a range of services offered under one roof. This single building offers GenesisCare’s radiation therapy facilities, chemotherapy and haemotology services at the Calvary Connery Centre and access to Clinpath Pathology and Radiology SA. We’re proud to open this facility in partnership, for the benefit of local patients in northern Adelaide region who can access comprehensive cancer care closer to their homes and support networks.”  

Northwest’s Co-Head A/NZ Region, Chris Adams said: “A core expertise of our business is in sourcing, planning and delivering market-leading healthcare precincts that service critical community needs. This newly completed purpose-built specialist medical centre brings together leading healthcare providers in a state-of-the-art facility to offer enhanced healthcare services to the community of Playford in South Australia.” 

“Leading sustainability practice has been at the core of Northwest’s approach to this development, and we are proud to deliver South Australia’s first 6-Star-Green-Star designed medical building. It is powered 100% by renewable energy, has 34% better energy efficiency than building code requirements, 25% better water efficiency than standard practice, and 40% lower embodied carbon than a standard building.” 

Matt Burnell MP, Federal Member for Spence, said: “This investment in the healthcare of people and families of the Northern suburbs is commended. The Playford Health Hub is helping to deliver on the needs of our community and is building on the work of the Federal and State Governments.” 

The Playford Health Hub has been developed by Northwest Healthcare Properties, through its NZX-listed fund Vital Healthcare Property Trust, in collaboration with tenants GenesisCare, Radiology SA, Clinpath, and Calvary Health Care.