Royal Perth Hospital - New State Trauma & Burns Unit

New state trauma and burns units at The Royal Perth Hospital were completed in December 2007 and February 2008 respectively after a contract period of approximately 48 weeks.

The 3000sq m redevelopment on the third floor in the North Block provides an additional 40 beds to the hospital (25 new trauma beds, 10 relocated burns beds and five dual-use, i.e. trauma or burns, beds). This design flexibility allows the hospital to accommodate up to 30 trauma patients or 15 burns patients.. The design brief for the new AUD$8 million facility included major changes to the existing fire and smoke compartments (from a single fire zone to three separate fire zones and six separate smoke compartments) as well as the installation of a new air-conditioning plant room within the existing ceiling space on the third floor.

Special attention has been given to designing the new burns area to minimise infection. Designs included isolation walls and ceilings in all wards, isolation airlocks to the wards, air pressurisation of the wards, the installation of hepa filters to all air-conditioning outlets, external viewing windows for staff to observe patients from the corridors, special radient heaters in wards and ensuites to aid patient recovery.

Construction was complicated by the fact there was an intensive care unit on the floor above and pathology laboratories on the floor below. Excessive noise and vibration was restricted to 15 minutes ‘on’ and 15 minutes ‘off’ on a rotation basis throughout the day. This was managed by the builder. Materials and labour were brought in via an external scaffolding and stairs structure that was erected at Wellington Street level, with access through a third floor window.