Tasmania’s busiest emergency department is in line for a major upgrade, with treatment capacity set to grow by nearly 50% as part of a $130 million redevelopment.
Health Minister Jacquie Petrusma announced the plans during a site visit on Wednesday, confirming the Royal Hobart Hospital ED will expand from 81 to 120 treatment points and include a dedicated paediatric floor.
“From having worked quite a long time ago in the previous emergency department, I am very excited about this redevelopment,” Petrusma, a former nurse, said.
“As a parent, what I find really exciting is going to be a whole floor that will be a dedicated paediatric zone, with a specialist paediatric waiting area, as well as a different waiting area for people who are suffering mental health distress.”
The redevelopment will more than double the medical imaging capacity, increasing from one CT and X-ray bay to two of each, plus two ultrasound bays.
Dr Paul Scott, Director of the Emergency Department, said the expansion would significantly improve patient care, with completion expected by late 2027.
“The final product will deliver significant improvements in acute adult lay-down treatment spaces, resuscitation areas, paediatric areas, fast-track areas and triage areas,” Dr Scott said.
The project has already delivered a 28-bed short-stay unit that serves about 10,000 patients annually, as well as a 22-bed decant unit crucial for the next construction phase.
Dr Scott said construction won’t be without its challenges. From October, the ED’s main entrance will temporarily shift to Argyle Street for around 14 months, before moving back to the Liverpool Street side.
“It will be challenging for staff over the next two years to continue to deliver emergency care within this footprint and have building occurring around you,” he acknowledged.
Last year, ED staff raised concerns that the proposed design wouldn’t meet current needs, let alone future demands. As a result, Dr Scott said the plans were revised extensively.
“The original design that we settled on was unfortunately $50 million over budget and that was thought to not be in the taxpayers’ best interest to proceed with,” he said.
“We’ve subsequently worked with the Department of Health, health service planners, architects and builders to come up with a design that we are clinically happy with.”
When asked about the decision to reject a $50 million budget increase for the hospital while recently approving a similar amount for an AFL high-performance centre, Petrusma defended the government’s health spending.
“We’re investing around $12.9 billion in health currently. That’s $8.8 million a day that we’re investing in … health services to ensure that Tasmanians get the right care now and into the future,” she said.
Department of Health Secretary Dale Webster added the ED expansion is part of a wider investment in health infrastructure across the state.
“The spend from the state government that’s already been announced exceeds $400 million,” he said.
The ED will maintain its current 81 treatment points throughout construction before increasing to 105 and eventually 120 upon completion.
A development application is currently with the Hobart City Council, with construction expected to begin once approval is granted and the tender process is completed.
