SA private hospitals to take more patients

Private hospitals will be allowed to take more patients across metropolitan Adelaide under new laws passed in South Australia's parliament.

South Australia will encourage private hospitals to take more patients by removing a cap on bed numbers.

State parliament has passed an amendment removing limits on the number of beds that can be provided by the 20 private hospitals in metropolitan Adelaide.

"The new laws we have passed will allow private hospitals greater flexibility in determining their needs and the number of beds they have," Health Minister Jack Snelling said on Wednesday.