Patients across Sydney are benefitting from a new state-of-the-art Tissue Pathology and Diagnostic Oncology Department at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital (RPA).
Minister for Health Ryan Park said the facility, delivered as part of the $940 million RPA redevelopment, will deliver high-quality, future-focused care and diagnostics for patients, while providing staff with the latest design, equipment and system capabilities to manage growing demand.
Mr Park said the new location also brings together the Anatomical Pathology and Cytology teams, and brings them closer to the Chris O’Brien Lifehouse, which will improve response times for urgent testing of samples for cancer patients.
“This new facility, which commenced operations in November last year, has been purpose-built and has set the benchmark for future upgrades to pathology services across the state,” Mr Park said.
“It includes additional floorspace to accommodate state-of-the-art equipment, allowing staff to perform the latest cancer diagnostic testing and report on clinical cases, resulting in improved turnaround times and patient care.
“This facility contains the latest in audio-visual technology, enabling Anatomical Pathologists to present real-time microscopic displays to surgeons, discuss their findings and make informed decisions at the operating table.”
Sydney Local Health District Chief Executive Dr Teresa Anderson AM said staff at RPA now have access to the best future-focused facilities and equipment.
“We worked very closely with Health Infrastructure and NSW Health Pathology to make sure we got the very best out of the space and we are very proud of the outcome,” Dr Anderson said.
“Not only containing the latest equipment and system capabilities, these state-of-the-art facilities also allow for remote training, a major benefit for staff.”
Chief Executive of NSW Health Pathology Vanessa Janissen said the new facility was a game-changer for better patient care.
“As the role of personalised medicine expands and starts to become routine care, we are seeing increasing demand and complexity in anatomical pathology and cytology and these facilities mean our teams at RPA are well placed to help meet this emerging clinical need,” Ms Janissen said.
The new Tissue Pathology and Diagnostic Oncology Department replaces the existing facility at RPA Hospital. In 2023, the department processed over 48,000 patient samples for a variety of cancer diagnostic tests.
The $940 million RPA Hospital Redevelopment, when complete, will include:
- expanded and enhanced emergency department and intensive care units
- state-of-the-art operating theatres
- expanded and improved adult and paediatric inpatient ward accommodation
- increased interventional and imaging services
- enhanced maternity services and neonatal intensive care services
- improved roads, signage and landscaping throughout the hospital
- new northern arrival and a new open garden courtyard.
Works are underway across the campus, with construction expected to be completed in 2028.
