Calvary St Vincent's Hospital
Tasmania’s first modular operating theatres
Welcome to the Calvary St Vincent’s Hospital operating theatre expansion project page.
Our aim is to share with you any progress on this exciting project as it comes together and helps Calvary realise its aim of expanding its operating theatres to build our capacity.
This project is important to us as a private operator as it will ensure we continue to be able to serve the Launceston community’s surgical needs.
Crane in completed - watch the time lapse
Sunday 7 December saw the first of the two new modular theatres arrive to site and we are extremely proud of what has been achieved in less than two months since the announcement of this “Tasmanian First” innovative solution.
Next steps
There will be minimal project work conducted during the Festive Season, but these works will resume again on Monday 5 January.
The fit-out and commissioning of the theatres will then proceed over the following weeks. We are looking to have the first theatre up and running in February.
Thank you to the Project Team and our staff who have given their strong support for this project.
Previous updates
Calvary St Vincent’s Hospital is now one step closer to expanding its surgical capacity with the implementation of two new modular theatres.
We did it! Successful crane-in completed!
On Sunday 7 December, 12 took delivery of the first theatre – carefully shipped over from the mainland and manoeuvred by crane onto site. This is an exciting achievement completed in a short time of planning – less than six weeks – and with a lot of organisation from both our local and national planning teams.
Next Steps:
There will be some building noise over the next few weeks as we finalise the footings to prepare to mount the modular theatre in the rear car-park site in early January, but we are working to keep it to a minimum.
The fit-out and commissioning of the theatres can then commence over the following months. We are looking to have the first theatre up and running by February.
Further civil works will soon get underway on site in December, including electrical upgrades which will lead to some power interruptions.
All inpatients will receive direct communications if this occurs during their stay.
Calvary St Vincent’s Hospital is now well into preparing site works ready for the installation of our two new modular theatres. Key activities currently underway this week include:
Back Lane Tree Trimming
This will have happened by the time you read this, and hopefully you didn’t notice. It was necessary to undertake some maintenance on one of the trees in the rear lane to allow for improved access. This was a careful trim rather than a significant cutback. Theatre Corridor Vinyl Changeover: On the evening of Friday 5 December, removal of the carpet tiles commences. There will be minimum impact for the two theatres that are undertaking operating lists on the Saturday.
Modular One – Crane In Day
Sunday 7 December sees the first of the portable modular theatres arrive via sea and then wide-load road transport. Canning Street will be closed off between St John and George streets for demounting from the truck, and movement by crane into position behind St Vincent’s Hospital.
Non-Essential Power Outage
A planned non-essential power outage is also scheduled for Sunday 7 December between 12 pm and 1 pm. On Sunday 14 December, a secondary planned non-essential power outage will take place for installation of the new 250A power supply. The electrical substation will be switched off from approximately 7.00am to 1 pm. During this time generators will be used for backup power. Communications will be shared with patients and staff prior to this planned outage.
Next week we will be getting to both the civil works and the enabling works.
Calvary St Vincent’s Hospital has commenced works in line with the upcoming installation of two modular operating theatres to complement our current suite of four theatres. From Monday 24 November, site preparation works will commence and these may have some impact.
Calvary St Vincent’s aim is to inform our patients of what is happening and the possible impacts that may be experienced.
Patient pick-up area
We are increasing the number of patient pick-up areas at the hospital’s main entrance in the week commencing Monday 24 November. There will be three “5 minute” pick-up points located in the front entrance car park to assist patients’ access as we undertake changes to car parking spaces at the rear of the campus. The increase in 5 minute pick-up points will help all patients accessing the hospital’s front entrance. Please help us and other patients by respecting the time limit.
Car Park Alterations – No Access to Day Surgery Unit
New safety fencing around the intended work site at the rear of St Vincent’s facility for the modulars will be installed 27 November. All Day Procedure patient admissions and discharges will be via front Reception
Frequently Asked Questions
Following the temporary closure of the three operating theatres at St Luke’s Hospital in Launceston, Calvary will expand surgical capacity at St Vincent’s with two modular operating theatres.
The assessments completed by building consultants indicated the time it would take to remediate the St Luke’s operating suite would be prohibitive. The modular solution at St Vincent’s allows Calvary to restore theatre services and build confidence in the community quickly. This is a safe, proven and immediate solution to restore capacity.
Calvary is continuing to work through a long-term future plan. In the meantime, St Luke’s will continue to provide medical, palliative care, and mental health services in the short term and assist with surgical services at St Vincent’s. These services remain vital for the community.
Surgical bookings will continue to be made by the doctors' rooms through St Vincent’s Hospital.
We recognise that staff at St Luke’s and St Vincent’s Hospitals will be impacted by these interim changes. Finding solutions to our circumstances have been challenging and these decisions have not been made lightly. However, we believe these are the right decisions for now that will ensure we can meet contemporary clinical quality and safety practices, as well as maintain and extend surgical capacity quickly to meet patient demand. We will continue to communicate with staff and appreciate your understanding during this period.
Given the extended timelines typically associated with major building works (particularly in Tasmania), the installation of the modular theatres provides a valuable interim solution. We cannot compromise patient access or safety while broader infrastructure decisions are being considered.
Work is already underway. Calvary has already received statutory approvals to move ahead without the need for a development application. Meanwhile, the infrastructure team in partnership with management teams across Calvary's Launceston hospitals, is progressing the assessment and ordering of suitable modular theatres, including transportation, delivery and installation schedule, as well as preparing connection and upgrade of power supply and associated other works including improved air-conditioning, a new generator, essential works and expansion of staff amenities and storage areas.
At each step approvals and costings will be required. There are many moving parts to this project and no handbook for it, so we are learning as we progress through each stage.
These works are classified as exempt emergency works under the Tasmanian Planning Scheme and therefore do not require a formal Development Application (DA). The installation of the two modular theatres is necessary to maintain essential surgical capacity and ensure continuity of health services. However, the project must be carried out in accordance with council’s requirements relating to matters such as noise management, parking, waste removal, and general site operations.
A lot of work has been invested in the very early stage of assessing the suitability of this plan, including managing traffic around St Vincent’s. The decision to locate the additional modular operating theatres towards the back of the site should restrict traffic movement on the campus. To reduce traffic flows in the rear laneway, waste collection and some deliveries will be diverted through Fredrick Street.
The removal of 16 car spaces from the interior of the site will be off-set by 25 designated Calvary car parks within the Secure Parking car park opposite St Vincent's on 10-14 Fredrick Street. We are fortunate to have secured this opportunity, meaning an overall increase in nine car parking spaces for St Vincent’s.
There should be minimal or no change to noise. We will operating theatres during the usual hours of 7.00 am – 8.00 pm, on weekdays only.
At this stage, it is expected the temporary theatres will be operational for 12 months. The first theatre, pending logistics and construction, is expected to be commissioned by February 2026 and the second one by April 2026.
Contact
For any further information, please contact Kate Pryde, General Manager at Calvary St Vincent’s Hospital:
Call 03 6332 4872, or
Submit your questions and feedback using the form below.