A new ward at Royal Darwin Hospital has been completed a year later than the government had originally planned, alongside a 30 per cent budget blowout.

Finocchiaro Government Logistics and Infrastructure Minister Bill Yan said the $23.95 million, 32-bed multipurpose ward included specialist design features such as bariatric rooms and negative-pressure isolation rooms. He said it could also accommodate renal patients and be rapidly converted into a pandemic response ward if required.

Mr Yan said the ward was connected to the main hospital tower via a link bridge and was constructed above a two-level undercover car park.

“This quality ward has been completed within budget and supported 130 jobs during construction, as part of our government’s commitment to getting projects out the door,” Mr Yan said.

Despite Mr Yan’s claim that it had been delivered on budget, the ward was announced in May 2024 by the former NT Labor government and then-health minister Selena Uibo at a budgeted cost of $18.2 million and with an expected opening in mid-2025.

The CLP won the August 2024 election. Mr Yan and Health Minister Steve Edgington did not explain the budget blowout or the delayed opening in their press release.

He said the new ward is part of a $107 million infrastructure program at RDH, which was announced by Labor in 2024 and also includes a new 24-bed mental health inpatient unit currently under development.

Mr Edgington said the government has allocated an additional $18.3 million in this year’s health budget to support the opening and ongoing operation of the new ward.

“Improving health services and bringing on more capacity is an important part of restoring our lifestyle and our plan to make the Territory the best place to live, work and invest,” Mr Edgington said.