Our surgical teams are looking forward to getting into the new operating theatres in the Critical Services Building (Building 5) at Canberra Hospital, when it opens later this year.

These theatres are equipped with a range of advanced medical technology. This includes:

• an Intraoperative Magnetic Resonance Imaging (iMRI) Suite, providing surgeons with real-time images of the brain during procedures. Making procedures like brain tumour removal, and treating other brain conditions more precise
• three hybrid theatres equipped with cutting-edge angiography and CT angiography systems to support a variety of vascular surgeries and guided procedures
• two Interventional Radiography Suites, relocated from Building 12 to the Critical Services Building, offering a comprehensive range of diagnostic and interventional services
• 16 digital operating theatres.

‘I’m excited about the new technologies that will be in the building. The angiography system in the neurosurgical suite is particularly exciting. It is quite unique in Canberra, because it allows medical imaging of vessels in a neurosurgical suite with MRI capability during neurosurgery,’ Dr Lasersohn, Clinical Director of Anaesthetics said.

The theatres are located on level 3 of the Critical Services Building, within the Perioperative Unit, which also features:

• two spacious waiting areas
• a Day Surgery Unit with 40 beds for admissions and post-operative care
• a recovery area
• a discharge lounge.

The operating theatres are connected to the Sterilising Services Unit via dedicated lifts. This improves efficiency by facilitating the swift transfer of instruments between clean and dirty areas.

A Patient Transfer Link bridge has also been added to the Critical Services Building. This provides a private clinical connection between the new and existing hospital buildings. It enhances hospital efficiency and patient privacy by separating clinical pathways from public areas.