Cardiology services at Canberra Hospital will move into the new Critical Services Building, which opens next month. Health minister Rachel Stephen-Smith states that an expansion of cardiology services would enable more patients to be treated for heart conditions.

The building will include a new acute cardiac care unit, a cardiac day unit, and three cardiac catheterisation labs.

The acute cardiac care unit will increase from 19 to 28 beds and the cardiac day unit will more than double in capacity with an increase from 9 to 20 beds.

The expansion includes a dedicated lab for cardiac electrophysiology procedures and a larger lab for more complex procedures such as TAVI (transcatheter aortic valve implantation).

The building will also have a procedure room (to perform transoesophageal echocardiograms and other minor procedures); a diagnostic room (for minimally invasive procedures); and a stress test room (with an exercise bike and a treadmill to perform exercise stress tests for inpatients).

“The expansion of services will provide more timely access to treatment for Canberrans in a modern and fit-for-purpose facility,” Ms Stephen-Smith said.

“Bringing these cardiology services together in the new building will also support smooth transfers of patients between the units, ongoing monitoring, and timely interventions for patients where required.”

The new Critical Services Building is being prepared for clinical services. Canberra Health Services staff are being trained in the new building, and thousands of pieces of new equipment have been commissioned.

“The expansion of cardiac care provides an example of how clinicians have played a key role in contributing to the design of the Critical Services Building,” Ms Stephen-Smith said. “Their input has been key in creating a work environment that is state-of-the-art, improves workflow, and leads to better patient outcomes.”