With construction progressing on the PA Hospital expansion, a new Golden Ticket initiative is giving staff the chance to go behind the scenes with tour participants selected at random from submitted expressions of interest.
A group of enthusiastic staff donned their hard hats and high-vis vests for an exclusive site tour, getting a first-hand look at the new spaces that will soon become part of the hospital.
Clinical Nurse Consultant Raj Bawa, who has been closely involved with the project since the design phase, said it was exciting to finally walk through spaces he had previously only seen on plans.
“It is so good to be able to walk through the area that we have only seen on design plans. It is great to see the area coming together.”
For Raj, the new ICU was a particular highlight, with its larger clinical environment and improved visibility across patient areas supporting patient safety.
“The new ICU will be a much bigger and better area with clear visibility for all patients from a distance, which is very important for patient safety.”
For fellow Golden Ticket winner Josh Clausen a RN on Ward 2E, it was the unexpected details that made an impression.
“I was surprised and impressed to see that the new ICU space has a balcony, where patients can be wheeled out and get some fresh air!”
Josh was also looking forward to seeing the future ward spaces and getting a better understanding of the layout, including the new patient lounges and multidisciplinary team rooms.
For the PA Hospital Expansion team, the Golden Ticket tours are a great way to share the progress being made and give staff a sense of what all the construction activity is building towards.
Senior Director, PA Hospital Expansion Project Noelene Herbert, said it was exciting to be able to share the progress with the people who will ultimately work in and use these new spaces.
“It’s fantastic to be able to share this progress with our staff and give them the opportunity to see the expansion coming to life. So much work has gone into the planning and design, and seeing people’s reactions when they walk through these spaces for the first time is really exciting.”
The $748.1 million expansion is a major investment in the future of PAH, with four new floors being built above the Emergency Department.
Once fully operational, the expansion will provide 249 new overnight beds, including 30 new ICU beds, 13 cancer treatment bays, as well as expanded support services including medical imaging and pharmacy.
As construction continues, more staff will have the opportunity to go behind the scenes and see the future of PAH taking shape.