Government commits more funding for enhanced Women’s and Children’s Hospital

ACT Minister for Health, Katy Gallagher MLA, today announced an additional $7 million for the new Women’s and Children’s Hospital to incorporate the latest design features into what will be a world class facility.

The Government has committed the additional $7.37 million following the Minister’s study tour of cutting edge health facilities in Scandinavia.

“The additional funding will enable the hospital to be built with more single rooms and to higher environmental standards, as well as incorporate the latest information and communications technologies into the design,” Ms Gallagher said.

This extra allocation will bring the total budget for this innovative new facility to $97.37 million and provide for the following enhancements:

- an increase to the ratio of single bed rooms – bringing the total percentage to 80% across the new facility;

- inclusion of a Pneumatic Tube System to allow scope for fully automated medication dispensation and improved logistics;

- ESD (Environmental Sustainability Design) 5-star Greenstar initiatives including water capture and recycling and advanced sun shading and glazing;

- integral venetian blinds enhancing infection control measures and better control over room environment;

- ceiling mounted track system for better patient lifting;

- wider corridors to provide for the inclusion of new technologies and better logistics; and

- increased storage capacity and better storage systems.

“During my recent trip to Denmark and Norway, I visited world leading health facilities with full digital integration of hospital administrative, logistics, communication and medical management systems,” Ms Gallagher said.

“This highlighted to me the desirability of using this innovative technology to automate a broad range of both clinical and clinical support functions. This improves safety, reduces errors and paperwork, and saves valuable time for our skilled health professionals, enabling them to spend more time with patients and better health outcomes.

“Automated prescribing and dispensing shows that it is possible to reduce errors and mistakes to an almost negligible level, improve the timeliness of assembly of medication, and save significant hours of skilled professional’s time in the process of prescribing and dispensing of medication.

“Including a greater proportion of single rooms in the Women’s and Children’s Hospital will have the dual benefit of improving patient privacy and infection control,” Ms Gallagher said.

The new hospital will provide for an overall capacity of 80% single rooms, including:

- 18 delivery rooms (100% single rooms)

- 36 of the 48 paediatric beds (75% single rooms)

- 23 of the 30 gynaecology/antenatal/postnatal bed (75% single).

“We would also like to aim for a 5 Green Star (Australian Excellence) rating for our hospital which does come with additional costs. But environmental design also produces substantial benefits such as reduced energy costs and improved staff productivity.

“The Green Building Council of Australia released the Green Star Health Rating in June this year, which has provided us with a guide for incorporating sustainability strategies into health facilities

“This additional funding will position our new hospital as an Australian leader. It will incorporate the most innovative technology and provide a high standard patient care and safety for our women and children.

“For a modest additional upfront investment I believe the improvements to the building for the long-term far outweigh the additional investment,” Ms Gallagher concluded.

21 December 2009