The new Emergency Department (ED) will commence in the Critical Services Building (Building 5) at Canberra Hospital this weekend.
The move follows some elective surgery and Cardiac Catheter Laboratory procedures that have been progressively getting underway in the new building since Tuesday 13 August.
The Critical Services Building is part of the Canberra Hospital expansion, providing Canberrans with access to a bigger ED, more operating theatres and an expanded Intensive Care Unit.
In addition to the ED, the following services will be set up and ready at 7:30am for new patient arrivals:
- Helideck
- Clinical Forensic Medical Unit
- Intensive Care Unit
- Operating Theatres
- Cardiac Catheterisation Laboratories
- Medical Imaging
- Inpatient Units
The patient moves will take place over one day and it is expected that around 160 patients will be moved to the new building. The moves will occur in stages throughout the day, starting from 7:30am.
There will be clinical teams ready at both locations. One team will prepare patients for the transfer and move into the new Building, while the second team will be ready in Building 5 for new patients and to receive the patients who have moved.
Canberra Health Services will have extra staffing in place across all services to manage this plan.
The new operating theatres will be ready for any emergency surgeries from 7:30am, with the existing theatres used for emergency surgeries until that time. No elective procedures are planned for the weekend, whilst the service is moving.
The new ED in Building 5 will open from 7:30am on Saturday, 17 August. All Ambulances will go to Building 5 from 7:30am. Anyone requiring emergency care should go to Building 5 from 7:30am.
The existing ED will be closed to new arrivals from 7:30am, but anyone already in the Department will be treated there. Staff will be positioned outside of the existing ED to assist people to the new ED from 7:30am.
The Critical Services Building is a major expansion of the Canberra Hospital. It will see many of the acute care services located across the hospital move into the one building. Relocating these services will improve the way they work together and enhance patient access to health care at Canberra Hospital.
The community can find out more about the building and the move arrangements at: canberrahealthservices.act.gov.au/csb
Quotes attributable to ACT Minister for Health, Rachel Stephen-Smith:
"Moving hospital services is no small task. The clinical teams have been working hard to prepare for the move and ensure a safe and smooth transition of services to the new building.
"There are comprehensive move plans in place for all services. However, while the clinical teams get familiar with their new work environments over the coming weeks, we expect that there may be some disruption.
"We're asking the community for their understanding and patience during this time and to reconsider their need to attend the hospital this weekend if they don't need to be there.
"Of course, if you need emergency care, our dedicated teams will be there to look after you."
Quotes attributable to Dr Sam Scanlan, Staff Specialist at the Canberra Hospital Emergency Department:
"The move to the new ED is a really exciting time for our team at Canberra Hospital. It is going to help us deliver better care for our patients.
"We have worked tirelessly to plan for the move from the current ED to its new location in Building 5.
"This is a good opportunity to remind our consumers to keep the ED for emergencies and to consider where the best place is for you to access the care you need.
"There's a tool on the Canberra Health Services website that has this information, and we encourage everyone to download the ACT Health app for easy access to information about urgent care options."
