Stage 2 of the PA Hospital pharmacy expansion is now underway, with golden shovels signalling the ceremonial commencement of growth in essential services alongside the hospital.
Pharmacy is one of the largest expansions with a major program of upgrades set to transform the service and significantly increase its capacity.
Expansion Project Senior Director Noelene Herbert said the pharmacy upgrade is a key part of preparing the hospital for its next stage of growth.
“We need to make sure the critical services that support our clinicians, patients and staff are ready for the expansion of beds at the hospital,” she said.
“The pharmacy upgrade is a great example of this. The program is on track with construction underway.”
The service will have a much larger footprint, with three new robotic dispensing machines taking the total from one to three, significantly increasing the ability to load, store and dispense medications.
The upgrade will deliver 28 new dispensing drop points, a refurbished secure room with a direct medication drop point from the new robot, and a larger and upgraded cool room.
The pharmacy will also have an increase in workstations and an expanded stores area, giving the workforce more room to support the increased activity that will come with the expanded hospital.
CCTV and other security measures will also be expanded to support the safe and secure operation of the service.
Deputy Director of Pharmacy Scott Mitchell said it’s an exciting step for the team.
“The additional capacity, technology and improved spaces will make a significant difference to the way we can support our patients and clinical teams as the PA grows,” he said.
“Moving from one to three robots will give us a much greater ability to manage the increased dispensing demand.”
Delivering the pharmacy upgrade within a busy, operational hospital has required close collaboration between the Pharmacy team, the Expansion team, hospital stakeholders and Hutchinson Builders (Hutchies).
Hutchies Project Manager Toby Labuc said working in a live hospital environment means there are a lot of moving parts and careful planning to minimise disruption.
“We’re working closely with the project and Pharmacy teams to make sure the construction program keeps moving while the hospital can continue to operate safely.”
Pharmacy is just one area in a much broader program of Support Services works being delivered as part of the expansion.
Medical Imaging will also be upgraded, with an additional CT scanner in the Level 1 Emergency Department, a new angiography suite in the Level 1 Vascular and Interventional Suite, and CT and X-ray capability via a new Level 3 Critical Care Satellite Medical Imaging service.
Along with this, the project will relocate the Central Clinical Resource Unit to an expanded footprint in the basement and deliver an upgraded Safety and Response Unit.
As the exterior of the PA Hospital Expansion reaches completion, the focus is moving inside to preparing the people, services and systems that will bring the expanded hospital to life.