Why it's time to stop rebuilding the Royal Hobart Hospital
The Tasmanian government's recent decision to restrain the expansion of the Royal Hobart Hospital's (RHH) emergency department is yet another reminder of the ongoing challenges of redeveloping an old site.
Despite millions spent, the physical and financial constraints of rebuilding from the inside out on the current site are morale-crushing and unsustainable. The underground location, combined with cost blowouts, continues to hinder progress and, in some cases, care.
This issue is not new. In the 2000s, the decision to upgrade the RHH or build a new hospital was heatedly and extensively debated. The plan for a new facility at Macquarie Point was abandoned, and the global financial crisis was blamed, leaving Tasmania with outdated infrastructure.
What exists now is a partially modernised site, with K Block providing new wards, but other areas, such as the emergency department and ICU, remaining a challenge.
Tasmania still lacks a modern hospital to meet the needs of its growing population. While most other states have built new hospitals, the RHH remains constrained by its old infrastructure.
Continuing redevelopment is inefficient. Now is the time to adopt a visionary approach to healthcare.
The AMA proposes building a new acute hospital within 5-10 minutes of the current site. The new facility would provide comprehensive services, including adult emergency care, trauma, specialised surgery, and medical imaging.
The current RHH would become a dedicated Women's and Children's Hospital while retaining an elective surgery centre and cancer services. Consolidating all maternity services into one modern site for public and private care, with dedicated women's health services and redesigned clinics, would enhance efficiency, improve patient care, and help attract and retain obstetric specialists and midwives. With a dedicated mental health care facility located at St John's Park.
There is no hiding the fact that a new hospital is a significant investment, but it is a necessary one for the long-term health of Tasmania's population.
It will help improve patient outcomes and address ongoing issues of hospital ramping, elective surgery waitlists, and cancellations once and for all; ironically, it will likely save money in the end.>>ENDS