In a significant step for the $689 million Royal Hobart Hospital Redevelopment, the project team received the certificate of occupancy for the temporary inpatient facility on Monday, 31 October 2016.

Tasmanians can be assured that the 54-bed health facility is safe and fit for purpose.

The certificate of occupancy is verification from an independent building surveyor, that the completed facility meets building standards, including matters such as fire separation and occupant safety.

The temporary inpatient facility has also received verification from an independent occupational hygienist that the building is safe.

This comes after substantial rectification works that demolished and replaced the internal fit out of level 2 and some areas of level 3.

Medicine and mental health patients will now have access to a modern health facility located away from the major construction site.

The design of the mental health wards is a vast improvement with more single bed rooms and spaces where patients can be offered contemporary treatment and support such as with sensory modulation and de-escalation.

Patient safety is the priority during the relocation of hospital services.

The occupation of the temporary inpatient facility involves the most complex relocation of services to date.

Three acute wards will move including the high dependency mental health unit.

The RHH Redevelopment team and hospital staff are working on the extensive operational commissioning and decanting requirements needed to ensure this is resourced appropriately and efficiently.

After the temporary inpatient facility is cleaned to clinical standards and the facility is furnished and stocked, equipment is tested and the required staff training on site is completed, services will be relocated over a two week period.

The facility is a critical feature of the decanting plan, so B-Block can be demolished and the new 10-storey inpatient precinct called K-Block, built.

The RHH Redevelopment project is delivering a state-of-the-art health facility for generations of Tasmanians to come.

02 Nov 2016