The NT Health Department has said building work on a new ward at Royal Darwin Hospital will disrupt the use of the main car park, with the new ward now scheduled to open in late 2025.

The new, multi-purpose ward was originally scheduled to open early next year.

NT Health Top End Region Executive Director Dr Luke Butcher said the $18.2 million 32-bed ward was being built at the front of RDH’s main car park next to the café. The ward will be elevated, allowing for a two-level undercover car park with provision for reserved disability parking.

“Construction may cause some disruption to staff, patients and their families due to noise and impacts to the main car park. An interim car park will be established to minimise any inconvenience and ensure adequate parking,” Dr Butcher said.

“We look forward to seeing the construction of the ward take shape over the coming year.”

Dr Butcher said the ward had been designed to allow for potential upward expansion by two levels.

The new ward was announced by the former government on September 8 last year and was intended to be open early next year.

In mid-May, however, a government statement said it would not open until mid-2025.

Dr Butcher said the ward, which is being built by Territory business Aspire, would be open at the end of next year.

The ward will have different room types: single bedrooms with negative pressure; standard single bedrooms equipped for bariatric patients; single bedrooms; and general bedrooms.

It will also have staff offices and areas along with the capability to integrate renal dialysis facilities into each bed.

There has been $25 million allocated to enlarging the mental health inpatient unit with $22.6 million set aside for mortuary, pathology and bereavement facility improvements, and $6.6 million for enhancing the mental health stabilisation assessment and referral area unit.

The 2024-25 NT Budget allocated $2.2 billion to NT Health.