Canberra's first private emergency department is under construction and is expected to open around March 2026. The facility, called the Canberra Emergency Care Centre, will be located at the Summit Healthcare Hub in Turner. It will feature 17 beds and be staffed by senior doctors, aiming to provide no wait times for paying patients.
The emergency department will treat children and adults for a range of issues including viruses, minor injuries, chest pain, abdominal pain, migraines, fractures, and dislocations. However, it will not handle life-threatening emergencies that could kill or destroy a limb. Patients can attend with or without health insurance, but out-of-pocket costs are estimated at $300 to $400 per visit, which cannot be covered by private health insurance.
Emergency doctor Nicholas Lonergan said the centre aims to see 40 to 60 patients per day with essentially no wait time. Unlike public emergency departments, it will not have wards or operating theatres but can transfer patients to public and private hospitals if needed. The hub will also house orthopaedics, imaging, physiotherapy, pathology, and podiatry services, allowing for quick scans and referrals.
The project is led by surgeon Saqib Zafar and colleagues Professor Paul Smith, Alexander Burns, and Nick Tsai. Dr Zafar said the doctor-led and funded project aims to reduce pressure on Canberra's public hospital emergency departments, which see nearly 500 presentations daily. He hopes to take 10 to 20 per cent of the workload from public hospitals by treating less urgent cases like broken wrists or ankles that often face long waits in the public system.
The Summit Healthcare Hub is located at 7-11 Barry Drive in Turner, chosen for its central location and public transport links, including a tram stop nearby. The facility includes an underground carpark and is seeking approvals for a drop-off zone. A dedicated imaging centre for cancer patients will offer bulk-billed and fast scans, addressing delays in the private system where PET scans and biopsies can take weeks.
