No. 27

improved CRITICAL CARE SERVICES FOR north canberra

The 2007–08 ACT Budget will deliver $3.5 million to provide expanded Intensive Care, High Dependency and Coronary Care services for the people of northern Canberra.

Health Minister Katy Gallagher said the combined and expanded unit would deliver a 16 bed capacity to better support the critical care needs of patients at Calvary Hospital. 

“Calvary is an increasingly busy public hospital providing emergency, elective and maternity services.  A modern, well equipped Intensive, High and Coronary Care Unit is essential to the continued support and development of such services in the north of Canberra.

“When complete this unit will provide a 33 per cent increase in capacity, and will work with the Canberra Hospital as part of a network delivering modern, critical care services to the people of the ACT and the surrounding region of NSW.”

Ms Gallagher said the $3.5 million in funding would provide equipment for the new unit, with funding for its construction being supported by an annual capital payment made by the ACT Government to Calvary.

“I have instructed my department to work with Calvary to immediately commence the process of designing and building the new unit, which I hope will be operational in 2008-09”, Ms Gallagher said.