The Australian Capital Territory (ACT) Government has announced that the new Critical Services Building at Canberra Hospital is set to open this month.

This development comes as the building’s construction is now complete.

The latest milestone in the completion of the building was announced in the presence of ACT Chief Minister Andrew Barr, Health Minister Rachel Stephen-Smith, and representatives from the community groups, the ACT government, and local associations.

Once open, the nine-storey hospital building is projected to offer an expanded emergency department, along with a larger intensive care unit (ICU) and additional operating theatres.

It will consolidate a wide range of acute care services from across the campus into a single facility.

The government highlighted that the new main entry and reception, as well as the sterilising services of the hospital, are already open to the public.

However, all the clinical services to be offered by the new facility are scheduled to commence in the new building on 17 August.

Some of the clinical services that will be moving to the new Critical Services Building include cardiac catheterisation labs, day surgery admission, emergency department, inpatient cardiology services, medical imaging, medical and surgical inpatient units, and operating theatres.

The hospital’s new building will introduce Australia's first all-electric healthcare facility. By utilising the ACT’s 100% renewable electricity, the structure will reduce its annual carbon footprint by approximately 1,886t of carbon dioxide. 

The critical services building is currently in the final stages of preparation for clinical operations, with Canberra Health Services completing the last-minute arrangements for the transition.

Once operational, it will be designated as Building 5 at Canberra Hospital.

Stephen-Smith said: “The new critical services building was thoughtfully co-designed with staff, consumers, carers and other stakeholders to create a modern health facility that is accessible and welcoming.

“Clinicians will have access to state-of-the-art equipment to support innovative models of care and deliver the best possible healthcare to their patients.

“The opening of the critical services building is a huge milestone for the ACT public health system and our entire community. It will help to meet the growing health needs of our city, attract health workers to the ACT and provide staff, patients and families with a light and pleasant environment to work and heal.”