Page 3869 - Week 12 - Thursday, 29 October 2015
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floor space in the ED. At the same time it will better integrate and provide a better layout within the ED as a whole. It will have an integrated paediatric streaming function, so that families with little kids are able to have their treatment managed in a way which is separate from that of adults. That is particularly important in a place like the ED, which can be a traumatic place at times, given the range of health conditions that our doctors and nurses need to respond to.
The project is being progressed over five stages, and these areas will open progressively as they are completed. Stage 1 is already well underway, with modules that make up the extension already in place. This extension will accommodate the emergency management unit and the mental health short-stay unit. This is a very effective form of construction methodology—a modular construction methodology—which is allowing us to deliver the project very quickly.
Stage 2 will focus on the paediatric streaming function, giving that speciality area that I mentioned before. Stage 3 is an expansion and remodelling of areas which will hold the newly designed subacute unit, with its own sub-waiting area and new beds. Stages 4 and 5 will focus on the upgrade of the main waiting area and the expansion of the resuscitation bays from three bays to five, as well as improving the configuration of the ambulance bays.
This is a very important upgrade in a critical area of our hospital. I am very pleased that we are well on track to deliver it.
MADAM SPEAKER: A supplementary question, Ms Porter.
MS PORTER: Minister, can you please update the Assembly about the new building 15 at Canberra Hospital?
MR CORBELL: I thank Ms Porter for her supplementary. Building 15 is of course the site previously occupied by the old psychiatric unit at the Canberra Hospital. It has now been completely demolished thanks to the government’s investment in a new, purpose-built adult mental health facility at the hospital. Building 15 is a $16 million redevelopment of this site. I was very pleased earlier this month to officially open the building, a new 4,000 square metre building housing allied health and outpatient services including the renal unit, neurology unit, rehabilitation services, aged and community care and pastoral care services. This is a fantastic new facility.
It is worth highlighting that outpatient services are one of the busiest parts of our health system. There were more than 34,000 occasions of service and over 3½ thousand electronic referrals in July this year alone. So that really does highlight the significant volume of work that our outpatient area deals with.
This is a new facility which provides better working spaces for staff and better treatment and care facilities for patients. In particular, it is first of all unified. So it brings these services together in a much more coordinated and integrated way. Secondly it uses floor space more efficiently, including common waiting areas and consultation areas that are managed through a very efficient electronic booking system that provides for better utilisation of these treatment spaces. Finally it provides better access.
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