A NEW public hospital will be built at the University of Canberra, after the government and the university reached an agreement today.

The “University of Canberra Public Hospital” will be built on the northwest of the University’s Bruce campus and is due to be completed by 2017.

An initial sum of $4 million has been allocated towards the planning and design of the hospital.

Chief Minister Katy Gallagher says the hospital will be a “sub-acute” facility offering a range of rehabilitation services, such as neurological rehabilitation and older persons’ rehabilitation, as well as mental health services and day hospital services, such as hydrotherapy.

“It will be closely linked with the University, with spaces allocated for teaching and research within the hospital itself,” Ms Gallagher said.

“We are building a health system for the future with more nurses, more beds and better facilities.  Once built, this new hospital will significantly increase bed capacity, as we continue to increase beds across the health system.”

University of Canberra Vice-Chancellor Stephen Parker says the new hospital would build on the University’s success in integrating teaching, research and treatment in health.

“The University of Canberra already trains a significant proportion of the region’s health workforce, our researchers are finding new ways to tackle the health problems our community faces and our staff and students are delivering health services to the community – locating a hospital on our campus builds our capacity to serve the community in all these areas,” he said.

“An on campus hospital provides more high quality clinical placements to students, academic and research opportunities for clinical staff and additional benefits to patients in rehabilitation and sub-acute care.”