Publications
MEDIA RELEASE: New Northside Hospital must meet the needs of our diverse community
11 June 2026
The Health Care Consumers’ Association (HCCA) is pleased to see funding confirmed for the new Northside Hospital, which will now enable detailed design work to progress ahead of construction starting in 2027-28.
HCCA is funded to facilitate community input into health infrastructure in the ACT.
HCCA looks forward to working with Canberra Health Services, Infrastructure Canberra and community members in this next design phase to ensure that the new Northside Hospital meets the needs of our community.
Hospital design should respond to the diversity of the community who use it. Waiting for health care in busy spaces can be overwhelming. Design features such as low-stimulus waiting areas for adults and children in the Emergency Department are needed by people with sensory sensitivities. The new hospital should also prioritise access and support for people with disabilities, including a fully accessible adult Changing Place, as the Canberra Hospital campus has recently done.
The Bruce hospital site has challenges with slope, public transport access and not enough parking. In coming years while the new hospital is built, people will still need to access the site for health services. It is our understanding that parking and site access for consumers will be improved while construction goes ahead.
HCCA Executive Director Lachlan Atyeo said:
“The new hospital will serve our community for many decades. We have heard from consumers and carers about some of the hospital design features they need, including waiting and gathering spaces that can be used by carers and families, who play an important role in supporting loved ones when receiving care. We want inpatient rooms in all wards to have capacity to accommodate a carer staying overnight. This is especially important where patients have cognitive or physical impairments or are vulnerable or distressed.”
Victoria Dolphin, Acting Chief Executive Officer of Carers ACT, said:
“Carers ACT has been representing carer needs through co design consultations for the North Canberra Hospital. However, we noted that carer considerations were not reflected in the announced features. A key design feature of modern hospitals is space for carers to remain overnight as partners in care. Carers play an essential role in patient wellbeing and safety, and that role does not end just because visiting hours are over.
We expect inpatient rooms in the Northside Hospital will be designed to accommodate overnight carer support as the project progresses. We have already seen this approach implemented in the Canberra Hospital expansion, where inpatient rooms support carers to stay overnight alongside dedicated carer spaces.”
Ravi Krishnamurthy, Health Infrastructure Reference Group Member, has provided early feedback on some aspects of the new hospital design. He commented:
“As a community member, I would like to see the new Northside Hospital designed around the needs of patients, families and carers, with strong accessibility, culturally responsive care, and clear communication for all. During construction, it is equally important that existing services remain easy to access, with improvements to parking, public transport connections and site navigation. The hospital should reflect the diversity of our community and ensure equitable access for people of all backgrounds, ages and abilities. Most importantly, it should be a place where people feel respected, supported and confident in the care they receive.”
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About HCCA:
Health Care Consumers’ Association (HCCA) is the peak advocacy organisation for health consumers in the ACT. We work to improve the quality and safety of health services and advocate for health equity for people living in the Canberra region.
HCCA helps consumers have a say in the design and delivery of health care and represents the needs and priorities of consumers to the ACT Government and health services.
Media contact person: Lachlan Atyeo
Title: Executive Director
Organisation: Health Care Consumers’ Association (HCCA)
Phone number: 0483788368
Email address: [email protected]
Organisation website: https://www.hcca.org.au/