Released 12/12/2018
The ACT Government has today announced the location of the new Surgical Procedures, Interventional Radiology and Emergency (SPIRE) Centre on the Canberra Hospital campus; the Government’s $500 million expansion of Canberra Hospital.
Following extensive planning and feasibility work, Minister for Health and Wellbeing Meegan Fitzharris today announced that SPIRE will be built on the north-eastern side of the hospital campus between Hospital Road and Palmer Street, with construction to commence in 2020.
“SPIRE is an important health investment for the ACT – one that will future proof our city and help our public health system respond to increasing demand as our city grows,” said Minister Fitzharris.
“SPIRE will transform the Canberra Hospital, increasing the territory’s capacity to deliver acute, hospital-based healthcare in a modern, purpose-built facility.
“This major health infrastructure project will see $500 million invested into the Canberra Hospital campus. In this location, the Centre will replace ageing buildings and completely renew the northern end of the hospital precinct.”
Since SPIRE was funded in the 2017-18 Budget, extensive planning and feasibility work, including territory-wide health services modelling, has been underway.
ACT Health has worked closely with health service providers and key stakeholders to establish an agreed baseline from which effective, territory-wide service and infrastructure planning is undertaken. This has included the establishment of a Steering Committee for the project.
“The advice of the Steering Committee has been critical in determining the optimal location for SPIRE, acknowledging the hospital is an operational site where existing health services are delivered and will need to continue to be delivered while construction is underway,” Minister Fitzharris said.
“The advantage of this location is the minimal disruption to critical care services during the building phase. It will replace administrative buildings that are aged, while allowing integration with other acute services buildings on the campus.
“SPIRE will feature more operating theatres, more inpatient wards and a larger ICU, bolstering capacity at the hospital.
“It will have a coronary care unit for people requiring high level care for heart conditions, state-of-the-art surgical, procedural and imaging facilities and a significantly expanded ED, enabling capacity for specialist emergency healthcare for women and children.
"ACT Health has already kicked off engagement with our clinical workforce on this important project and I look forward to these discussions and more detailed conversations continuing in 2019 as early design work progresses with clinicians and other stakeholders.”
Construction on SPIRE is expected to commence in 2020, with SPIRE planned for completion in 2023-24.
While the SPIRE development progresses, ACT Health is also working closely with Calvary Public Hospital to explore an expansion of health services and infrastructure in Canberra’s north.
“As part of the whole-of-territory approach to health services and infrastructure planning, we are undertaking a northside hospital services scoping study, which will explore health service and infrastructure options across Canberra’s north.
“We know Canberra’s north is rapidly growing, so to future-proof our healthcare system we are looking at how we can better deliver health services so Canberrans receive high quality healthcare where and when they need it.”
- Statement ends -
Meegan Fitzharris, MLA | Media Releases
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