Canberra Hospital’s $660 million redevelopment has been celebrated for its state-of-the-art facilities and improved facilities. Photo: ACT Government.
There have been 100,000 patients, 19,000 procedures and 430 helicopter transfers in the first 12 months that Canberra Hospital’s Critical Services Building has been in operation.
Thursday, 7 August, marked one year since the much-anticipated nine-storey 45,000 square metre building was finished.
Health Minister Rachel Stephen-Smith, who has overseen and opened many of the new facilities, said that the building had already proven its value to the community.
“The Critical Services Building positions us well for future demand and evolving surgical technologies. It’s an investment that will continue to benefit the Canberra community for decades to come.”
“Importantly, the Critical Services Building is the first fully electric clinical building of its kind in Australia, helping to future-proof Canberra’s health system as part of the ACT Government’s commitment to sustainability and zero emissions.”
One of the most significant upgrades has been the emergency department, which got a new, larger space, a Children’s ED, and a separate Ambulance entry.
On the ground, emergency staff said that the upgraded facilities have transformed their ability to deliver effective care.
“We’ve been able to respond more effectively to high-demand situations and provide a safer, more efficient environment for patients and staff alike,” ER Staff Specialist Dr Sam Scanlan said.
“Whether it’s managing trauma cases, large-scale emergencies, or everyday high-acuity presentations, the emergency department has helped us deliver better care for our patients.”
The Emergency Department has seen a significant expansion to include a children’s ER at Canberra Hospital. Photo: James Coleman.
One of the key aims of the CSB development was to consolidate the hospital’s critical services.
To facilitate this, the building was built to house a 48-bed ICU, a helipad on the roof – already used to bring in 430 patients – and new imaging facilities, among others, all under one roof.
Surgery Clinical Director Dr Gert Frahm-Jensen said these expansions and upgrades, especially for operating theatres – the CSB has 22 – have made a big difference.
“The Critical Services Building has markedly enhanced our surgical capability. With access to modern operating theatres and improved recovery areas, we’re able to provide more timely and complex surgical care to our patients.
“The advanced infrastructure supports better coordination across surgical teams and allows us to deliver care in a safer, more streamlined environment. It’s been a game-changer not only for the way we work, but for the experience and outcomes of our patients.”
Ms Stephen-Smith praised the team at the hospital for their hard work.
“I really want to thank all of the staff who’ve been working hard to keep Canberrans well in very busy times.
“The teams really managed to maintain a very impressive level of performance, both in terms of seen-on-time but also the amount of time that people are spending in the emergency department before being admitted or discharged home, given the number of presentations, and maintaining that performance is a really incredible effort.”
The CSB is the centrepiece of a $660 million redevelopment of the hospital, which aims to reshape how it functions.
Other upgrades at the hospital have ranged from a new Veterans’ Lounge to a fully redeveloped bus interchange to make accessing facilities by public transport easier.
Planning is currently underway for more expansion, including a new pathology and clinical support building.
