New short-stay surgery unit to free up hospital beds for complex-care needs patients

TASMANIA’S Health Minister says a new short-stay unit will help ease the pressure on the Royal Hobart Hospital.

TASMANIA’S Health Minister says a new short-stay unit will help ease the pressure on the Royal Hobart Hospital when it opens to patients tomorrow.

The short-stay surgery unit will provide post-operative care for patients who have had straightforward procedures, freeing up beds for people with more complex care needs.

Health Minister Michael Ferguson says the new unit us a milestone in the $689 million RHH redevelopment.

Health Minister Michael Ferguson said the unit was a milestone in the $689 million Royal Hobart Hospital redevelopment.

“With eight recovery recliners and four trolley bays able to take patients from tomorrow, this unit will accommodate patients for up to 36 hours depending on their needs, and is based on a nationwide contemporary model of care,” Mr Ferguson said.

“The (unit) is part of a new interconnected surgery precinct on the RHH’s fourth floor to be established when K-Block is finished, which will provide an additional seven operating and procedure rooms.”

Mr Ferguson announced in August that because of a series of delays involving mould and asbestos within the hospital, the likely overall finish date of the RHH redevelopment had been pushed out until mid-2019.

Originally published as New short-stay surgery unit to free up hospital beds for complex-care needs patients