Construction begins on world’s first private ICU of the Future
Construction has commenced on a transformational redevelopment of St Andrew’s War Memorial Hospital’s Intensive Care Unit, making it the first private hospital globally to implement the acclaimed ICU of the Future model developed by the Critical Care Research Group (CCRG).
The project will see three existing ICU beds transformed into state-of-the-art ICU of the Future environments, designed to improve long-term patient recovery, wellbeing and quality of life following critical illness.
Founded by the CCRG, the ICU of the Future is a world-first initiative that is reshaping the delivery of intensive care by shifting the focus beyond survival to the physical, cognitive and emotional recovery of patients after they leave intensive care.
The initiative was first launched at The Prince Charles Hospital, Brisbane in 2022 following more than six years of research and co-design by CCRG in partnership with patients, families, industry partners, and clinicians.
The project is being led by Professor John Fraser AO, Founder of CCRG and St Andrew’s Director of Intensive Care, and Dr Oystein Tronstad, ICU of the Future Project Manager and Clinical Research Lead from CCRG.
Professor Fraser said the project, which is on track for completion in late 2026, represents a significant step forward for the ICU of the Future initiative which has attracted interest from hospitals across Australia and around the world.
"Each year, an estimated 15 to 20 million patients are admitted to intensive care units (ICUs) worldwide. While survival has traditionally been the benchmark of success, growing evidence shows many patients leave ICU with devasting complications,” explains Professor Fraser.
“Up to 80 per cent of ICU patients experience ongoing physical, cognitive, or psychological challenges following discharge, with many cases linked to environmental factors within ICU settings.
"For decades, intensive care has focused primarily on helping patients survive. While that remains our focus, we now know that survival is only part of the story. The ICU of the Future has been designed to improve not only survival but recovery and quality of life,” Professor Fraser said.
"This project places the patient experience at the centre of the design. Every element has been carefully considered to support healing, reduce stress, and create a more human-centred environment without compromising clinical excellence.
“Traditional intensive care units have historically been designed around clinical workflows. In contrast, the ICU of the Future has been developed with patients' physical and sensory needs at its core,” he said.
Features such as circadian lighting, reduced noise through ‘silent’ alarms, and nature-inspired visual elements are designed to help patients maintain a sense of time, improve sleep, and reduce the risk of delirium, all factors known to influence recovery and long-term outcomes.
For St Andrew's War Memorial Hospital, the project builds on a long history of delivering advanced care for patients with complex healthcare needs, particularly in cardiac and critical care.
General Manager, Linda Jorgensen, said the ICU of the Future is a key pillar of the hospital’s broader vision for the future of healthcare.
"We're incredibly proud that St Andrew's will be the first private hospital globally to bring this model of care to patients,” Linda said.
"The ICU of the Future represents a significant investment in the care of our most seriously unwell patients and reinforces our commitment to delivering world-class, patient-centred healthcare.
“As a leading private provider of cardiac and critical care, we're continually looking for new ways to support improved outcomes and experiences for our patients and their families.
"This is much more than an infrastructure project; together with the CCRG, we are creating an environment where patients will receive the best possible care and leading clinicians will want to work,” Linda said.
The ICU of the Future project at St Andrew’s has been made possible through the remarkable generosity of a donor.
Professor Fraser said the donor's support would have a lasting impact on generations of patients.
"We are deeply grateful for the vision and generosity of our donor,” Professor Fraser said.
"Their support is enabling us to lead the way in patient-centred critical care and helping ensure more patients not only survive an ICU admission but go on to thrive afterwards."
Image: LED Screen and Digital Artwork by Spacesuit&Co.
Developed by the Critical Care Research Group, the ICU of the Future is a world-leading initiative designed to improve patient recovery following critical illness by creating intensive care environments that support both clinical excellence and human wellbeing. The model was first implemented at The Prince Charles Hospital in Brisbane in 2022 and has attracted national and international attention for its patient-centred design.
About St Andrew's War Memorial Hospital
Since 1958, St Andrew's War Memorial Hospital has provided high-quality healthcare in the heart of Brisbane. The hospital is recognised for clinical excellence in cardiac care and orthopaedic surgery, and is a leader in neurosurgery, urology, and other complex specialties. St Andrew’s proudly cares for thousands of patients from across Queensland and beyond each year. Together with The Wesley Hospital, Buderim Private Hospital on the Sunshine Coast, and St Stephen’s Hospital in Hervey Bay, St Andrew’s War Memorial Hospital is part of UnitingCare Queensland’s network of not-for-profit private hospitals.