The new redevelopment masterplan for the Royal Hobart Hospital has been unveiled, representing the largest development in Tasmania for 20 years.

 

Premier Lara Giddings said that the Australian and Tasmanian Governments’ combined capital injection of $586 million would transform the Royal Hobart Hospital (RHH) into a contemporary facility delivering top-class services.

 

“This redevelopment represents the largest health infrastructure project we have ever seen in our state and will give the construction industry and the wider economy a crucial boost.

 

“Most importantly, patients from across the state will benefit from a contemporary hospital offering expanded and high quality services.

 

Design plans for Royal Hobart’s the new inpatient and Women’s & Children’s precincts which will eventually front onto Campbell Street at the end of the current stage are also on show. 

 

The inpatient precinct, incorporating all inpatient and complementary services, will be completed early 2016 and will include:

 

  • additional capacity for operating theatres and procedure rooms including increased endoscopy rooms;
  • additional bed capacity across inpatient wards including more flexible use of beds and an increased number of single bed rooms;
  • improved surgical intervention and diagnostic facilities, including a 23 hour unit;
  • co-location of functional services, such as outpatient clinics and associated support services to provide improved patient flow.

 

Phase 1 of the RHH Redevelopment has already delivered:

 

  • Upgraded clinic and triage areas for the ED;
  • a new equipment coordination store;
  • a significant upgrade of treatment areas for the Renal Unit at New Town; and
  • an expanded and upgraded Department of Medical Imaging including a new PET-CT suite, new fluoroscopy and ultrasound suites.

 

The upgrade had also included work on fire services, air conditioning, lifts, hydraulics and power and water supply.

 

Other works which are also part of Phase I under construction include:

 

  • expanding capacity for the Intensive Care Unit;
  • creation of a new Assessment and Planning Unit, adjacent to the Emergency Department (commencing in April);
  • expanding and improving accommodation for outpatient clinics at the Repat Centre;
  • Wellington Centre (Argyle Street) airbridge construction and fit-out to enable relocation of outpatient clinics later this year; and
  • and a new production kitchen at Cambridge to increase capacity which will commence operations later this month.

 

Construction of the new Cancer Centre has commenced with a new linear accelerator bunker underway and the awarding of a contract for other works is imminent.

 

Phase 2 (Cancer Centre) and Phase 3 will start concurrently and will develop new inpatient precincts (improving medical and surgical wards) plus dedicated Women’s and Children’s facilities, and will largely be focussed on buildings which will overlook Campbell Street.