Seven new theatres, one new cardiac catheter lab, three renovated endoscopy suites, new admissions, recovery and paediatrics discharge areas, and capacity for an additional 7000-plus elective and interventional surgeries every year – all delivered as part of the Cabrini Next Era theatre redevelopment to support the growing needs of our community.

This week, with the opening of our new paediatric discharge lounge, we are celebrating the final milestone and official completion of the Cabrini Malvern theatre complex.

“The opening of this final stage of our theatre development not only signifies the end of this phase of our expansion, it also serves as the launchpad for our Next Era,” Cabrini Executive Director Malvern and Brighton, Louise Alexander, said.

“We have an ageing population here in Australia and more than 150,000 will look to us for their healthcare needs in the next decade. We know that more people are going to be diagnosed with cancer, more people are going to need specialist cardiac care, and more people will need new hips and knees.

“Through the Next Era expansion, each year, about 7000 additional patients will access the healthcare that they need when they need it in our purpose-built, thoughtful and comfortable facilities.”

Perioperative Clinical Services Director Kerry Bateman managed theatre lists and patient flow throughout the build and is now looking forward to seeing the new spaces fully integrated into day-to-day operations.

Cath Lab (above)

“We’ve made adjustments to the way we function across our entire theatre complex,” she said. “Now, patients move through our theatre areas far better, in bright and comfortable facilities, and our staff have more room to perform their roles in purpose-built spaces designed for optimum functionality.

“It’s a credit to everyone involved, from the planning and construction teams, to the Cabrini staff who’ve made sure our patients were not impacted in any way during the build.”

The new facilities take Cabrini Malvern to a total of 30 theatres and three cardiac catheter labs and will accommodate about 2000 additional orthopaedic patients and 1800 cardiology patients.

The complex’s impressive new cardiac catheter cab – Cabrini Malvern’s third lab – sits alongside a beautiful new Discharge Lounge. All the new spaces have been designed with patient comfort in mind, are spacious and bright, and equipped with state-of-the art technology, including next generation robots.

“The equipment we have here at Cabrini, in this new cardiac catheter lab, is at the cutting edge of what’s available globally,” Cabrini cardiologist Professor Peter Kistler said. “You don’t need to be in the United States to get the latest innovations.

“We often have access to heart rhythm technologies before the US, and certainly here at Cabrini, that’s no exception. This lab offers all sorts of possibilities – the future proofing is important.”

While the design of the spaces prioritises patient comfort, those working in the new theatre complex are also beneficiaries.

“The theatres are amazingly spacious and so well lit, and the equipment’s great,” Cabrini urogynaecologist Professor Anna Rosamilia said. “It’s very exciting to have this space and new area to work in, and for our patients to recover in the beautiful new recovery room.

“Cabrini is really responding to the needs of the community in its growth through this great expansion we have,” Anna said. “There’s always pressure on beds and pressure on having access to elective theatre time, so this theatre expansion will allow us to give patients choice and quick access to theatres for procedures, and in turn, it will give surgeons choice in the space that they use and the times that they can have access to theatre.”