Calvary Health Care

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.

This video shows what the theatre looks like:

Video provided by: Q-bital Healthcare Solutions

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.