New Footscray Hospital and The Royal Adelaide Hospital: How New Care Models, Digital Innovation & Sustainability Are Influencing The Design & Operations of Hospitals

A key part of becoming a consumer-centred health system heading into 2023 means ensuring our health districts have the capacity and capability to meet the demands placed by the community.

Increasing population and a rise in rates of chronic illnesses demand of our hospitals and facilities to be ready for increased foot-traffic and bed demands that are inevitably coming the health system’s way. Moreover, environmental sustainability commitments are on the rise given the intent to align with global Net Zero commitments.

With Victoria’s recent record $2.9 billion investment towards health facilities redevelopments over 2022-23 alone, the commitment to modernise and expand our built environments for this changing healthcare landscape is clear.

Ahead of the Health Facilities Design and Development Summit running at the 10th Annual Victorian Healthcare Week 2022 (December 7-8, Melbourne Convention & Expo Centre), we sat down with two project leaders across VIC and SA - Robert Rothnie, Project Director, New Footscray and Melton Hospitals, Western Health and Di Mantell, Chief Executive, Celsus. This paper sees them offering an insight into how new care models, digital innovation and sustainable practices are paving the way for new ways to design, operate and run hospitals.

We hope you enjoy this interview spotlight.