Major renovations at Canberra Hospital’s cancer and haematology wards in Woden are to begin shortly.
The $17.3 million redevelopment of Wards 14A and 14B in Building Three at the Canberra Hospital are expected to be completed by the first half of 2020.
Executive Director of Infrastructure Management and Maintenance at Canberra Health Services, Colm Mooney (pictured) said the redevelopment would include the roll-out of new medical equipment and furnishings.
“There will be more single-bed rooms to support patient privacy, infection control and recovery, and day beds in patient rooms to enable family members to be more involved,” Mr Mooney said.
“The redevelopment will also feature positive pressure environments to reduce the risk of infection to immune-suppressed patients. These rooms are designed so that air flows out rather than in, keeping airborne bacteria away.”
He said upgrades to the Clinical Trials Service area would allow it to add the testing of new drugs to its existing program of intervention testing.
Executive Director of Cancer Ambulatory and Community Health Support, Cathie O’Neill said the redevelopment would benefit those attending the Medical Oncology and Radiation Oncology Inpatient Unit and Haematology Inpatient Unit.
“These changes will allow us to build on the exceptional care our staff provide to inpatients of the two units by providing a more comfortable environment for them and for those who support them,” Ms O’Neill said.
Preliminary sketch plans were finalised in August 2018 and demolition of Ward 14A was completed that October.
Construction of the new-look ward 14A will begin shortly with Ward 14B being decommissioned once 14A re-opens to patients, with the second phase of construction due to get under way in October.
