Important milestone reached in Royal Hobart Hospital Emergency Department Expansion
11 Apr 2025
An important milestone has been reached in plans to deliver an expanded Emergency Department (ED) as part of the Royal Hobart Hospital Redevelopment Stage 2.
A Development Application for the Main Works has been submitted to the City of Hobart. Lodgement of the Development Application follows confirmation of the concept design for the $130 million project.
The Emergency Department Expansion will deliver a state-of-the-art ED across three levels, increasing treatment points to improve patient flow and standards of care.
The Department of Health has worked closely with key stakeholders and clinicians to co-design a concept plan for the ED to deliver the best possible facilities within the available project budget.
The concept design has been informed by research into expected patient demand through to 2037 that was conducted by specialist health planners. Consideration has also been given to factors such as recently introduced hospital avoidance strategies, post Covid-19 changes in the health services landscape and updated Tasmanian demographic statistics.
The expanded ED will deliver 120 treatment points over three floors as well as CT and X-Ray bays and two ultrasound rooms. The design also includes a new paediatric zone and dedicated waiting areas for children and for those experiencing mental health distress.
The Emergency Department Expansion Project will reduce wait times and length of stay in the ED and deliver a more streamlined and improved patient and visitor experience. It will also provide improved access, safety, and infection control measures, an improved workplace environment for staff and will enhance the visual amenity around Liverpool Street and Argyle Street.
Construction is expected to begin in the second half of 2025 and is expected to take approximately two years. Phase 1 of the Emergency Department Expansion Project was completed in January 2023, delivering an additional 28 treatment points.
