Premier's plan for Royal Hobart Hospital emergency department must be the start of comprehensive healthcare expansion

The AMA Tasmania welcomes the Premier's announcement of the next step being taken towards the much-needed upgrade to the Royal Hobart Hospital (RHH) Emergency Department. This pivotal project has faced significant delays due to the necessity of redesigning it to fit within the available space and budget constraints.

The submission of plans to the Hobart City Council for approval is a big step for all involved.

While the expansion of the emergency department is a positive development, it is crucial to note that this measure will only address patient demand for the next decade. Thus, it is imperative that we commence planning for a new acute care hospital on a greenfield site.

This initiative will ensure the construction of an emergency department capable of meeting the future needs of patients as well as other acute medical services across the hospital without necessitating the compromises that have had to be made when trying to squeeze more beds and services into a physically constrained space.

Under this forward-thinking plan, the RHH's K Block would be retained as a hospital campus and could be repurposed and utilised for a Women's and Children's Hospital, serving both private and public sectors and an elective surgical centre, among other medical services.>>>ENDS.