The ACT government's $23 million pop-up emergency department for coronavirus patients will be set up on the oval opposite Canberra Hospital.
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Health Minister Rachel Stephen-Smith has confirmed Garran oval as the location for the 50-bed facility. The playing fields are located immediately northeast of the Canberra Hospital campus.
"The location has been selected to mitigate any interruptions to the Canberra Hospital operations through this critical period," Ms Stephen-Smith said.
"It provides flexibility for the facility to have adequate area available for logistics and essential equipment servicing the facility. The facility is intended to be fully self-sufficient by way of public and staff car parking and amenities."
The field hospital, which will be built, equipped and run in partnership with Aspen Medical, will treat patients with moderate to severe cases of the virus.
The temporary facility is a key part of the government's plan to boost the capacity of the territory's hospitals amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
Those preparations include a tripling of the number of intensive care beds in the ACT, from 50 to more than 170.
While the government has yet to finalise designs for the field hospital, Ms Stephen-Smith remained confident that it would be open and treating patients by next month.
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The government doesn't need development approval to build the facility, as territory planning laws provide exemptions for projects that are needed to protect the public during an emergency, including a pandemic.
"Though the designs aren't yet finalised, we are moving as quickly as possible to plan, design and deliver this new facility, and ensure we are well-equipped to cope with the anticipated increased demand on our health care system," she said.
"In moving ahead quickly on this project, the government is planning for the worst scenario whilst hoping for the best outcome for our community. We will continue to take decisive action during these uncertain times to make sure we're as ahead of the game as we can be."
- For information on COVID-19, please go to the ACT Health website or the federal Health Department's website.
- You can also call the Coronavirus Health Information Line on 1800 020 080
- If you have serious symptoms, such as difficulty breathing, call Triple Zero (000)
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Dan Jervis-Bardy
Dan covers federal politics from Parliament House, with a special focus on climate policy and the NDIS. He has previously reported on ACT politics and urban affairs since joining the Canberra Times in 2018.
Dan covers federal politics from Parliament House, with a special focus on climate policy and the NDIS. He has previously reported on ACT politics and urban affairs since joining the Canberra Times in 2018.
