Clinical Liaison Officer Ben Lollback shows Health Minister Rachel Stephen-Smith the smart lighting in the refurbished theatres. Photo: Ian Bushnell.
Two new dedicated obstetric operating theatres close to Centenary Hospital for Women and Children will mean safer caesarian section deliveries for mothers facing emergencies or needing an elective option.
The refurbished theatres, holding area, eight-bay recovery area, medication rooms, storage areas and scrub bay at the Canberra Hospital cost $5.5 million and are due to come online on 27 May.
The theatres, which also come with smart LED operating lights, mean mothers will not have to be taken across to the new Critical Services Building.
This will also alleviate pressure on theatres there and reduce the need to reschedule surgery.
Health Minister Rachel Stephen-Smith said the theatres were purpose-built for obstetric surgery.
“We have, of course, been providing a safe space for obstetrics theatre during this period, but to have these theatres refurbished to be fit for purpose, specifically for obstetrics, is a really exciting next step in the Canberra Hospital expansion,” she said.
Obstetrician and gynecologist Dr Danica Vress said there were usually two to three planned elective deliveries a day, but Maternity needed to be able to pivot if there was an emergency during labor or after a woman had given birth.
“Particularly when it’s not planned, it’s really important that we’re safe and we’re close to where the birth suite is,” she said.
“So, being here rather than the amazing new theatres in Building 5 means that we cut down on travel time and we can ensure safety.”
From left, staff specialist gynecologist and obstetrician Dr Danica Vress, Clinical Director of Birth Sally Bacon, Executive Director of Women and Children’s Hospital Katherine Wakefield, Mr Lollback and Ms Stephen-Smith discuss the new theatres.
The plan was to have one theatre running, and the other free in case it was needed.
“Before Building 5’s operating theatres opened, we used to have to barge in between other people’s cases, and so the orthopedic surgeons and vascular surgeons didn’t love us, and we bumped their operating list for an emergency,” Dr Vress said.
“Now we can run our own theatres and plan our own elective cases, as well as being cognisant and aware of any emergencies that may arise.”
Dr Vress said the new theatres were also large enough to accommodate the midwifery, surgical and neonatal teams, mothers and partners, and support people.
“There’s often a larger group that comes through in an emergency … So the room fills up quickly,” she said.
“These are big spaces, they have all the equipment ready for anything that might happen for us here.”
It was also important that the post-operative recovery area be close by, as well as the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit and Special Care Nursery.
Dr Vress said the rising rate of C-sections in Canberra, 42 per cent in 2022, was not driving demand for the new theatres.
“The need was always there beforehand,” she said.
“As a Level 6 tertiary obstetric service, it’s really important that we’re able to respond to anything that can happen, and that means now we don’t have to wait for a theatre to become available, we have our own space.”
Asked if she was concerned about this rising C-section rate, Ms Stephen-Smith said the government was committed to increasing access to continuity of midwifery care, which had an impact on increasing the rates of vaginal birth.
Nurse and midwife to patient ratios will be introduced into operating theatres and maternity at Canberra Hospital and North Canberra Hospital later this year.
