FIRST STEP TAKEN TOWARD BUILDING WOMEN AND CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL

Released 14/06/2008

ACT Health have advertised plans for a building industry consultation and briefing on the proposed new women’s and children’s hospital at The Canberra Hospital.

Commenting on the release of the briefing notice inlast weekends media, ACT Health Minister, Katy Gallagher MLAsaid this was “an important first step in the development of the new $90 million women’s and children’s hospital.”

“This initiative will also be the first of a series of interconnected redevelopment projects planned for The Canberra Hospital as part of a health infrastructure program for the ACT public health system,” Ms Gallagher said.

The new Women’s and Children’s Hospital will be located within the existing women’s precinct on The Canberra Hospital Campus.

“Relocating paediatric services to a Women’s and Children’s facility will liberate space for the relocation and redevelopment of other services, so this is a very important phase of the project,” Ms Gallagher said.

The new hospital will enable the development of a centre of excellence in women's and children's health care with buildings that facilitate the delivery ofnew models of clinical careandfacilitate innovation and the translation of research to clinical care.

“Current facilities at The Canberra Hospital for women’s and children’s services are ageing and not designed with the flexibility to accommodate changes in clinical practice and new technologies in health care,” Ms Gallagher said.

The proposal for the Women’s and Children’s Hospital incorporates

• expansion of the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU)
• a new Paediatric Unit (PaTCH)
• expanded ambulatory care facilities for paediatric
• adolescent and women’s services
• the Fetal Medicine Unit
• an extended and refurbished gynaecology unit and maternity unit.

The need for expansion of the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit was acknowledged with provision for detailed design in the 2007-08 ACT Budget.

The development of the Capital Asset Development Plan for ACT Health facilities and the overarching concept design for infrastructure and service delivery across The Canberra Hospital (TCH) site has, however, driven the necessity to no longer consider the NICU in isolation, but rather as part of the provision of the broader delivery of integrated Women’s and Children’s services.

Feasibility planning which will confirm services planning already undertaken regarding requirements for beds and other clinical areas in the Women’s and Children’s Hospital is currently underway.

Statement Ends
Date 14 JUNE, 2008

Media Contact: Angie Drake Ph: 6205 0139(w) 0408 092 016(m)