The construction of the Canberra Hospital Intensive Care Unit has begun and is on track to be completed by the end of the year.
Over $13 million will be spent on the project, increasing ICU beds at the Canberra Hospital by eight to 39, boosting critical care capacity while the design and construction of the Canberra Hospital Expansion is underway.
Senator for the ACT, Zed Seselja, said the Canberra Hospital ICU treats 2,200 patients annually and the eight additional beds will support greater access to critical care facilities for the growing population of Canberra and Greater Southern NSW.
“The commitment of $13.5 million from the Commonwealth Government to expand the ICU here at Canberra Hospital will make a difference to the sickest and most critical patients in need of high-level care across our region,” he said.
According to Senator Seselja, the expansion is part of the $1.4 billion infrastructure investment for Canberra over recent years, as well as significant transport infrastructure investment and investment in national institutions in Canberra. The construction will also provide a boost for local jobs and industry during the COVID-19 pandemic.
ACT Minister for Health Rachel Stephen-Smith said additional ICU beds will provide patients from Canberra and the surrounding region greater access to lifesaving care and acute medical treatment.
“A bigger ICU at the Canberra Hospital will ensure our health system is better equipped to meet the increasing demand for intensive care treatment,” she said.
“Additional healthcare workers will be recruited to staff the expanded ICU, providing 24-hour care to some of the most critical patients at Canberra Hospital.”
Ms Stephen-Smith said that across the Canberra Hospital campus there are more than 45 projects underway to improve the facilities and amenities available to staff, patients and their families.
“The ICU expansion is one example of how we are working to modernise and future-proof Canberra’s major tertiary hospital,” Ms Stephen-Smith said.
“This includes delivering the Canberra Hospital Expansion, the new emergency, surgical and critical healthcare facility which will include 60 ICU beds.”
Funding for the ICU expansion has been provided through the Commonwealth Community Health and Hospitals Program. The project has been designed so that construction does not cause disruption to the current operations of the ICU.
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