The new Critical Services Building at the expanded Canberra Hospital will open soon, providing Canberrans with access to a bigger emergency department, more operating theatres and an expanded Intensive Care Unit (ICU).
The new Building is a major expansion of the Canberra Hospital, with many acute care services located across the campus moving into the one building.
Chief Minister Andrew Barr and Minister for Health Rachel Stephen-Smith were joined by representatives from the ACT Government, Multiplex, community groups and local associations to mark the completion of the nine-storey hospital building.
Clinical services are scheduled to commence in the new building on Saturday 17 August.
With the new main entry and reception of Canberra Hospital open to the public, and sterilising services already operating in the building, the clinicals services that will be moving include:
- Emergency Department
- Intensive Care Unit
- Operating theatres and day surgery admission
- Inpatient cardiology services and cardiac catheterisation labs
- Medical and surgical inpatient units
- Medical imaging
- Helipad
The completion of the new hospital building also delivers Australia's first all-electric hospital building. The building will be powered by the ACT's 100% renewable electricity, reducing its emissions impact by approximately 1,886 tonnes of CO2 every year.
The new Critical Services Building is currently being prepared for clinical services, with Canberra Health Services making the final arrangements for the move. It will be known as Building 5 at Canberra Hospital upon opening.
The community can find out more about Building 5 and the move arrangements at: canberrahealthservices.act.gov.au/csb.
Quotes attributable to ACT Chief Minister Andrew Barr:
"The ACT Government is committed to providing Canberrans with the very best health care, where and when they need it.
"At the core of this commitment is our investment in public hospitals. The Critical Services Building is the largest health care infrastructure project that has been undertaken by the ACT Government to date and exemplifies this commitment.
"With a bigger emergency department, an expanded intensive care unit, more operating theatres and extra treatment spaces, this major expansion to the Canberra Hospital will enhance our acute care services for Canberrans and those who live in the surrounding NSW region.
"The Critical Services Building is just one of a number of investments that the ACT Government is making in health infrastructure to support the Territory's changing health needs now and into the future."
Quotes attributable to ACT Minister for Health Rachel Stephen-Smith:
"The new Critical Services Building was thoughtfully co-designed with staff, consumers, carers and other stakeholders to create a modern health facility that is accessible and welcoming.
"Clinicians will have access to state-of-the-art equipment to support innovative models of care and deliver the best possible healthcare to their patients.
"The opening of the Critical Services Building is a huge milestone for the ACT public health system and our entire community. It will help to meet the growing health needs of our city, attract health workers to the ACT and provide staff, patients and families with a light and pleasant environment to work and heal.
"On behalf of the ACT Government, I acknowledge the hard work and dedication of all involved in delivering this incredible project and thank them for their contribution to building a better hospital system for the people of the ACT and surrounding region.
"This includes staff from Canberra Health Services, ACT Health Directorate and Major Projects Canberra, as well as Multiplex, which has partnered with the Government to construct this transformative new hospital building."
