The SA Health program placing hospital patients awaiting aged care beds into the inner-city Pullman Adelaide hotel has provided care for 80 older people since the Transition Care Service launched just over two months ago, with clinical services delivered by Medibank-owned Amplar Health Home Hospital.

The number of patients waiting for an aged care bed still reached a record high of 280 last month or the equivalent of Adelaide's entire Modbury Hospital. There are currently 263 patients waiting for a residential aged care placement, which is a slight decrease, but more than double the number a year ago.

A total of 55 patients have been discharged under the Transition Care Service, a joint collaboration between SA Health, Amplar Health Home Hospital, and the Pullman Adelaide.

Patients are selected based on their clinical needs, and are monitored by nurses before they transition home or to another appropriate setting, such as an aged care home.

One patient spent more than 200 days in hospital before being transferred to the Transition Care Service.

SA Health Minister Chris Picton said, "In just the first 10 weeks, we’ve seen how successful a service like this one can be in shifting patients out of hospital who no longer need to be there. It’s better for the patient and the health system."

Amplar Health Home Hospital CEO, Sarah McRae, said the service is an "innovative model" that exemplifies "how health services are evolving to better meet patient needs – delivering the right care, in the right place, at the right time.

"Patient feedback has been overwhelmingly positive," she said.