Released 22/12/2016
The $24 million expansion of the Canberra Hospital Emergency Department (ED) is now complete, increasing its overall capacity by nearly a third and ensuring Canberra Hospital can deliver more timely emergency care to the community now and into the future.
Minister for Health Meegan Fitzharris said the completed expansion demonstrated the ACT Government’s commitment to providing modern health care facilities for the community.
“As Minister for Health, I’m proud to deliver on the Government’s commitment to better access and improved emergency care services for the Canberra community,” Minister Fitzharris said.
“The expansion includes an extra 1000 square metres of newly refurbished floor space in the ED, with an improved design layout to assist with patient flow throughout the department.
“The overall capacity of the ED has been increased by 30 per cent, with 21 additional treatment spaces, and three new ambulance bays.
“As part of the expansion, the Canberra Hospital ED now has dedicated paediatric treatment facilities and waiting areas, improving the patient journey for our youngest patients and their families.
“There is also a new sub-acute area in the ED called Fast Track, which provides care for patients with less severe injuries.
“In addition, there is a new Mental Health Short Stay Unit, which has improved how we care for people who present to emergency with mental illnesses since it opened at the beginning of this year.
“The completion of this expansion will significantly improve outcomes for patients, particularly families with young children,” Minister Fitzharris said.
The ED expansion, which started in May 2015, has been undertaken in five stages while the department has remained operational.
“A highlight of this construction project overall has been the completion of the expansion works with minimal disruption to staff and patients, ensuring that the important functions of the department continued and the new areas came online as soon as they were complete,” Minister Fitzharris said.
“No doubt this has not been without its challenges, so I would like to thank all patients and their families using these services – and the clinical and administrative staff at Canberra Hospital and in the ED – for their patience and understanding during the construction period.
“I would also like to acknowledge the efforts of SHAPE, the Head Contractor, and all the workers involved in delivering this project for the Canberra community,” Minister Fitzharris said.
Included in the 21 additional treatment spaces, which has increased the total number of treatment spaces from 54 to 75, are:
- nine more acute beds for patients with severe conditions;
- three more treatment spaces for patients with less severe conditions;
- three more beds in the Emergency Medicine Unit, which provides care for short-term patients;
- two more consultation spaces and designated sub-waiting areas for paediatrics;
- two more resuscitation bays; and
- two more beds in the new Mental Health Short Stay Unit (formerly Mental Health Assessment Unit).
In addition, there is now a dedicated Clinical Forensic Medical Service, Triage Assessment Bay, ED X-ray facility and the main reception waiting area has been refurbished to include a parenting room.
Minister Fitzharris said although the number of patients presenting to the ED was continuing to increase, the expansion and the operational reforms that were introduced in the ED earlier this year have already seen improvements to timeliness.
“To support and maintain this progress, through the 2016-17 ACT Budget the ACT Government is continuing to invest in the Canberra Hospital ED, with $29 million in funding over the next four years for 54 more doctors and nurses and allied health workers to treat people within the ED,” Minister Fitzharris said.
The Canberra Hospital Emergency Department expansion is part of the ACT Government’s investments in providing world-class health infrastructure for the ACT.
- Statement ends -
Meegan Fitzharris, MLA | Media Releases
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