Chief Minister Gallagher has announced that her preferred option for a new hospital is within a stone’s throw of the existing Calvary hospital:
The report assessed four potential sites: including the Calvary Hospital Campus, the University of Canberra, Gungahlin Town Centre, and Block 12 Section 78 Nicholls. The report identified the University of Canberra as the preferred site and public feedback was sought on the report’s findings.
“The ACT Government has been undertaking consultation with the community since 20 January 2012, on the development of this exciting project which will deliver a purpose-built, contemporary facility for sub-acute services”, the Chief Minister said.
The ABC is carrying her explanation:
Ms Gallagher says having the new facility close to the acute Calvary Hospital would have many benefits.
“There is the chance that you will need to transfer patients between facilities. We needed a large block of land – these are not easy to find,” she said.
“Also we believe those links to the university offer us some additional benefits. We want the University of Canberra, to be the health university of the city. They do the majority of our training for nurses, for allied health professionals, they have a strong health program.
“When you look around the world where universities have hospitals located near them, it really does give the university a boost.”