Hospital is becoming an increasingly familiar place for Adelina Pfeiffer.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The 16-year-old has been in and out of Canberra facilities since being diagnosed with Crohn's disease, a type of inflammatory bowel illness.
Her latest stay brought her to the new Centenary Hospital for Women and Children, where she said roomy improvements meant her family could join her during her time away from their Chisholm home.
"It's a lot more space and it looks a lot nicer," she said.
The family-oriented environment was the result of seven years of planning and engagement with patients, parents and staff, director of neonatal services Zsuzsoka Kecskes said.
Associate Professor Kecskes said the $111million facility also eased stress for staff by bringing neonatal and paediatrics services together in the one building.
"It was built with the voice of families in mind," she said.
"Technology is up to date, we have better equipment and it's about the collaboration between the teams."
ACT Chief Minister Katy Gallagher described the new facility as "world class" by combining women and children's health.
"The people of Canberra now have the best women's and children's hospital in the country," she said.
"We've been able to learn from other facilities around the country. It's certainly the best facility in the country now, but in a couple of years it will be overtaken."
Despite acknowledging the future need for upgrades, Ms Gallagher said no expansion was planned for the site.
She said any future developments would be incorporated on the Calvary hospital site, where trends predicted greater growth in maternity needs.