RHH asks to keep make-do building

THE future of one of the key buildings at the Royal Hobart Hospital remains up in the air.

The State Government is seeking to retain the use of a temporary building, which currently accommodates 32 mental health beds and 22 general medical and respiratory inpatients beds, until 2025.

A development application on behalf of the Tasmanian Health Service has been made to Hobart City Council requesting a permit for extended occupation of the J Block building until March 31, 2025.

The 3000 sqm building is in the Liverpool St forecourt of the hospital and was built in 2016 at a cost of $22 million.

The construction of a new 10-storey inpatient facility ( K Block) on the Campbell St side of the site, meant it was necessary to vacate and demolish the existing building at the site (B Block). Those services were placed in J Block.

The initial planning approval for J Block was granted on the condition the facility was removed no later than four years after its installation, or six months after the issue of a completion certificate for K Block.

But the redevelopment of existing wards at the hospital and other refurbishments will mean significant areas at various locations across the existing hospital will be closed temporarily at different times between 2019 and 2024.

“The THS is working with staff and stakeholders to determine the best future use for J Block,” Health Minister Michael Ferguson said.

The development application comes as the hospital increased its escalation plan to the highest level for the third time in four weeks after a significant increase in demand.

The hospital also escalated to level four on June 4 and again last Tuesday.