A major heating and cooling upgrade of older sections of the Launceston General Hospital has reached a key milestone, the completion of works in the hospital’s most temperature-affected area.
The 32-bed ward 6D will reopen in coming days after receiving new air conditioning systems, delivering relief for staff, patients and visitors who have endured periods of higher temperatures.
Health Minister Bridget Archer said the completion of Ward 6D would provide significant benefits.
“The safety and comfort of patients and staff is the highest priority, so it is great to see works finished on Ward 6D, delivering immediate benefits,” Archer said.
“We are continuing to fix these longstanding heating and cooling issues at the LGH to ensure patients have a safe and comfortable experience when they are in hospital.”
The upgrades involved installing ducted air conditioning directly into patient rooms.
Archer said delivering the critical system upgrades within a working hospital was highly complex.
“As a result, the upgrades are being carefully staged and sequenced across rooms and wards to minimise disruption to clinical services and maintain continuity of care,” she said.
Patients from Ward 5D will be temporarily moved into the newly upgraded Ward 6D next week to allow works to begin on level 5.
The remaining two floors in D-Block will be progressively upgraded throughout this year.
Upgrade works are also progressing in the maternity ward, with rooms on track for completion by midyear.
All heating, ventilation and air conditioning upgrade works at LGH are expected to finish by early 2027.
