The ACT Government is continuing to invest in the health infrastructure, services and workforce needed to meet the growing needs of the Canberra community.
The Critical Services Building as part of the Canberra Hospital expansion will open later this year, delivering a bigger emergency department, more operating theatres, and more treatment spaces.
The ACT Government has announced an additional $17 million to expand emergency services in the Critical Services Building and critical care across the campus.
The additional investment includes:
- Two dedicated triage points within the new Emergency Department with more triage nurses and administrative staff that will reduce waiting times to triage, leading to better outcomes for patients and staff
- A dedicated Behavioural Assessment Unit within the new Emergency Department. This six-bed unit will be staffed by a dedicated team of doctors and nurses who will provide specialist assessment and care for patients with complex needs
- An expanded Medical Emergency Team to deliver vital services across the larger acute care footprint on the Canberra Hospital campus that will grow the service with more Advanced Practice Nurses and a new Nurse Practitioner position to support critically unwell patients
Medical imaging services will continue to grow across the Canberra Hospital campus with a new MRI machine in the Critical Services Building. The new MRI machine will enable more scans per week, helping to manage demand and reduce wait times.
This funding builds on our significant investment of more than $122 million to operationalise the Critical Services Building in the 2023-24 ACT Budget.
As the ACT Government invests in health infrastructure and services across the ACT, we are also bolstering the health workforce.
An additional $27 million in funding will improve benefits for nursing, midwifery, and allied health professionals to aid in the retention and attraction of these vital health workforces.
This investment will fund initiatives currently under negotiation with industrial partners including professional development opportunities and recognition of advanced skills and specialist expertise.
The ACT Government's investments in the well-being, development and remuneration of the health workforce aim to ensure our health workers remain among the best paid in the country.
Construction on the Critical Services Building is progressing well with the new hospital building on track to open in the third quarter of this year.
Quotes attributable to ACT Chief Minister, Andrew Barr:
"The ACT Government will continue to deliver new and upgraded health infrastructure across the ACT to meet the growing and changing needs of our community.
"We are building and upgrading hospitals, opening more health centres, and investing more in our Walk-in Centres so every Canberran can access the right care, in the right place and at the right time."
Quotes attributable to Minister for Health, Rachel Stephen-Smith:
"These new additions to the Critical Services Building will further enhance patient care, improve patient flow through the Emergency Department and provide staff with access to the very best equipment.
"As our health system continues to grow, we are working to ensure our workforce grows with it. This includes more support for nursing, midwifery and allied health students, recruitment campaigns and a team dedicated to hiring specialist doctors and other health professionals.
"We committed to an additional 400 health professional positions this term and we continue to exceed that number with more doctors, nurses and allied health professionals joining our ACT public health services every day.
"These new investments reflect the ACT Government's commitment to supporting the health, wellbeing and professional development of this highly valued workforce.
"We will continue to invest in our health care workers so they can continue to deliver high-quality, patient-centred care to Canberra and our surrounding region."
