The Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital redevelopment

The Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital redevelopment provided:

• eight operating rooms and 14 recovery spaces, all co-located on one floor
• 37 same-day beds/chairs
• 24 overnight stay inpatient beds
• new 13-cubicle emergency department (completed in May 2016)
• 42 multi-functional and flexible outpatient consulting rooms
• new central suite supply department
• updated pharmacy
• electronic medical records
• co-located general support areas
• significant future expansion space
• a full upgrade of the hospital's engineering infrastructure and central plant
• improved teaching, training and research facilities consolidated in the upper levels of the building.

The Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital redevelopment aimed to achieve the following benefits:

Patient care and comfort

The 13-cubicle emergency department is designed to use advanced technology. It is also designed to support staff to deliver better care and comfort. This means that patients can access the urgent ophthalmology and ear, nose and throat services that they need.

Improved accessibility

The redeveloped hospital consolidated patient clinical services on the lower three floors of the buildings. This aimed to improve patient navigation and connections between hospital towers.

Natural design

The link bridges were designed to provide increased natural light.

This project was delivered by the Victorian Health Building Authority in partnership with:

• The Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital
• Lyons (architect and principal consultant)
• Hansen Yuncken (construction manager).

The Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital is closely affiliated with, and accommodates, the University of Melbourne departments of Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology and the Centre for Eye Research Australia.

The project was funded by the hospital and the Victorian and Australian Governments.