Canberra Hospital buildings rated 'poor', reaching end of life

Close to half of all the hospital's buildings are in their last ten years of useful life.

The findings were made in an internal evaluation of the hospital's assets in 2017, obtained under freedom of information.

The report warned status quo investment could result in "increasingly dysfunction, or functionally obsolete" buildings.

But Health Minister Rachel Stephen-Smith says Labor would invest hundreds of millions in upgrades and maintenance over the next decade if re-elected.

The government will also embark on a $500 million expansion of Canberra Hospital, with construction to begin next year.

But many ageing buildings will not be included in the redevelopment, and there are no immediate plans to replace them.

It includes critical hospital buildings one, two and three.

Their overall condition was rated either poor or fair, with building three in the worst shape.

According to the report, a poor building rating meant it had deteriorated badly, had serious structural problems, elements were defective, services were failing, and a significant number of major defects existed.

A fair rated building meanwhile was in average condition, services were functional but required attention, and a backlog of maintenance work existed.

"Maintaining the status quo will result in deterioration of existing assets over time," the report said.

"Subsequently, the buildings will become increasingly dysfunctional or functionally obsolete which could potential compromise the efficient, effective and timely delivery of services.

"Also as the condition and functionality of these buildings degrades, there may be a need to employ additional staff to meet patient demand and maintain patient flows"

According to the report, 32 per cent of critical, high priority, and priority buildings required work to close current performance and functionality gaps.

Of the 10 buildings that will reach end of life within the next 10 years, two are critical assets.

The report said 23 per cent of hospital infrastructure services were assessed as having poor functionality.

Health Minister Rachel Stephen-Smith defended Labor's record of maintaining Canberra Hospital.

"The Government is currently investing more than $186 million in infrastructure on the Canberra Hospital campus (including Centenary Hospital for Women and Children), in addition to the Canberra Hospital Expansion," she said.

"We've continuously invested in maintenance and infrastructure upgrades to ensure that we make the most of our existing facilities, including a further $17.6 million allocated in the August 2020 economic and fiscal update."

She said if Labor was re-elected, it would immediately start the next round of consultation on the Canberra Hospital Master Plan.

"While community consultation was delayed due to COVID-19, feedback received to date has informed ongoing work. Early work on this project helped to inform the Infrastructure Plan released in 2019, which identifies up to $350 million in further investment to support Canberra Hospital modernisation over the next decade," Ms Stephen-Smith said.

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A Canberra Health Services spokeswoman said the future of the buildings vacated, as services were transferred over to the hospital expansion, would be determined in the masterplan process.

"Significant improvements have been made over a number of years to many of the older buildings," she said.

"More recently this includes the construction of new Cancer Wards 14A and 14B, a new mental Health Low Dependency Unit which is currently being constructed in Ward 12B of Building 3 and significant building services improvements across older buildings as part of the upgrading and maintain ACT health assets program of work."