Will Hodgman,Premier
The Royal Hobart Hospital masterplan, released today, provides both an immediate and long-term framework to guide development at the hospital and address demand pressures.
The Government accepts all the recommendations made by the Clinical Planning Taskforce, who have provided expert clinical advice on health planning in Tasmania, chaired by Professor Tony Lawler, Tasmania’s Chief Medical Officer.
In line with the recommendations, the Hodgman Liberal Government has committed to fund and commence Stage 2 of the redevelopment, to be delivered over the next three years, including:
- An immediate improvement to lift infrastructure with a new second dedicated patient lift to connect the Emergency Department, medical imaging and J-Block;
- An expansion of the Emergency Department, to meet growing patient demand;
- A comprehensive refurbishment of A-block, which will provide contemporary space for additional beds;
- An expansion of the ICU in its current location, providing space for another 10 beds on the same floor by 2024, and retaining close physical linkage to medical imaging; and
- A refit of the soon to be vacated J-block to meet additional demand and provide for new clinical uses.
It is estimated these works will cost an estimated $91 million and funding will be reflected in the 2019-20 Budget.
The first stage of the redevelopment, K-Block, remains our first priority and it is nearing completion.
Following the Stage 2 works, Stage 3 will be the redevelopment of the Repatriation Hospital as a dedicated sub-acute and mental health campus of the RHH.
This provides a once-in-50-years opportunity to work with consumers and staff to build a ‘best practice’ dedicated mental health facility, including more privacy and outdoor space.
The RHH Masterplan complements significant investments in North and North-West Tasmania, with the Clinical Planning Taskforce also leading development of a masterplan for the Launceston General Hospital. This will help inform the $87 million LGH redevelopment, and a range of other capital projects underway at the Mersey Community Hospital and the North-West Regional Hospital.
Health has always been, and remains, a top priority for the Hodgman Liberal Government, which is why we have invested a record $757 million into health over six years, and which is why we are delivering this vital RHH Redevelopment that previous Governments could not.
