Construction has started on the Canberra Hospital Expansion’s centrepiece building to deliver more emergency department, surgical and critical care capacity for the ACT and surrounding region.
Minister for Health Rachel Stephen-Smith said the start of construction marks another important milestone for the transformation of the Canberra Hospital campus.
“Hospital staff, patients and visitors will now start to see the Critical Services Building take shape,” Minister Stephen-Smith said.
“The Canberra Hospital Expansion is delivering modern healthcare facilities for Canberra with a bigger emergency department, more operating theatres and more beds.
“Internal spaces and courtyards are being co-designed with consumer representatives to ensure we can make the hospital experience as comfortable and healing as possible for patients and their families.
“The team will work closely with local residents and other campus occupants to keep them informed as work progresses and minimise construction impacts.
“Staff from across the hospital will also continue to be engaged as the design of clinical areas is refined, to ensure the new building supports exceptional patient care in a safe and effective environment.
“The Critical Services Building is the centrepiece of an ongoing transformation for the Canberra Hospital campus, which will be guided by the ACT Government’s Canberra Hospital Master Plan, to be released in coming weeks.
“Extensive work has already been undertaken to prepare the campus for the start of these works, including the construction of the new Building 8, which officially opened in June, a new administration building and the refurbishment of spaces across the campus.
“Demolition work is well progressed and today excavations commence for the new ambulance bay and basement. We expect to see cranes go up early next year.
“This major project will be delivered by a local Canberra workforce, creating 500 jobs during construction, and is part of the $5 billion of infrastructure spending we’re delivering across the Territory to support Canberra’s economic recovery.”
