Building works are now underway to create a larger RCH Emergency Department, with 20 extra treatment spaces, a second waiting room, new staff facilities and relocated ambulance bays.

A construction team has mobilised and begun to set up the site sheds which will provide a temporary base for workers and materials throughout the project.

These site sheds will make use of a former undercover parking area. Later in the project the Emergency Department (ED) will be extended out into this area, creating room for more treatment spaces.

From next week, workers will be active in an outdoor area near the ED entrance where they will use machinery to remove modify kerbs and traffic islands.

Patients and families are being thanked in advance for their understanding during these initial works, which will cause intermittent noise throughout August.

Works outside the ED will prepare for the eventual relocation of ambulance bays, and also for the number of drop off bays outside the ED to be increased from four to five.

Ambulance access will not be affected.

Emergency Department works form Stage Two of the RCH Expansion Project, a State Government project which also encompasses construction of a new 30-bed inpatient ward.

Works to build the new inpatient ward, which uses previously empty floor space on the hospital’s Level five, are on track to be complete by the end of the year.

The Emergency Department expansion is expected to be complete by mid-2024.

More information: rch.org.au/expansion.