Construction work on Canberra Hospital’s new Critical Services Building – the biggest part of the hospital expansion – is progressing well, the ACT Government announced today.

In the coming months, all eight levels will be complete, and installation of the façade and internal fit outs will continue. The project remains on track to completion next year.

The new Critical Services Building at Canberra Hospital will have a bigger emergency department, more operating theatres, and more beds, Chief Minister Andrew Barr said.

The government will invest an additional $8.1 million to futureproof the new building for pandemic response. This will include pandemic safe measures in the fit out and design, including enhanced air conditioning to better filter and isolate the circulation of air.

The government will invest a further $4.9 million to expand the scope of the building’s Central Sterilising Service Department. This means more equipment can be sterilised faster and more efficiently onsite, improving hospital service delivery.

In addition, $3.9 million will equip the Critical Services Building with more of the latest state-of-the-art clinical equipment. This includes a new Angio-CT machine in a hybrid theatre, which enables imaging of critically unwell patients in the operating theatre in real-time. This improves efficiency in theatres and patient safety outcomes.

“These additional investments reflect the ACT Government’s commitment to delivering a modern facility that is safe, accessible, and welcoming for staff, patients, and visitors,” health minister Rachel Stephen-Smith said.

These investments reflect the government’s extensive consultation and co-design process with clinicians, hospital staff, user groups, and the community.

“It has been very encouraging to see how engaged clinicians and staff have been in the design of these clinical spaces,” Ms Stephen-Smith said. “Their input has been key in creating a work environment that is state-of-the art, and improves workflow and care for patients.”