Northern Tablelands MP Adam Marshall with Moree Hospital’s Clinical Nurse Consultant – Preoperative Sharon Nash inside/outside the Mobile Surgical Unit which will in use during the $1.75 million refurbishment of the existing operating theatres.
Wednesday, 13 April 2016
ONE of the largest capital improvements projects undertaken in the last 30 years at Moree District Hospital will begin on Monday, Northern Tablelands MP Adam Marshall announced today.
Mr Marshall visited the hospital this morning to inspect preparations for the $1.75 million refurbishment of the hospital’s two operating theatres and commission the temporary mobile surgical unit, installed this week.
He said the state-of-the-art surgical unit was purpose built for Moree hospital and would ensure there was no impact on patients who required surgery while the refurbishment works were undertaken.
“Both elective and emergency surgery will continue at the hospital uninterrupted while the upgrade works are underway,” Mr Marshall said.
“I’m delighted to see that the operating theatres refurbished, bringing them up to the most modern standards – they’ll be the best operating theatres anywhere in the state.
“Moree performs around 850 emergency and elective surgical procedures each year which makes it easily the third busiest operating suite in the New England and North West behind Tamworth and Armidale.
“Patients travel from across country NSW, and even some from Sydney, to be operated on in Moree from a range of specialists who also travel and complement the local surgeons.”
Mr Marshall said the mobile surgical unit featured contemporary equipment, including LED theatre lights, reverse osmosis water plant, medical gas supply and instrument washer.
“It’s located in the space between the main hospital building, the children’s playground and the administration building and will operating from Monday,” he said.
The major refurbishment of the existing operating theatres will also begin on Monday. The work involves major ventilation and air conditioning works, asbestos removal, replacement of boilers, new and replacement equipment and improved storage facilities for the operating suite.
“The refurbishment will update the current environment to meet contemporary and accepted standards for the provision of surgery and sterilization,” Mr Marshall said.
“It’s hoped the revamped facilities will also assist Moree attract the services of a gynecologist.”
The upgrade works should take 18-20 weeks and should be operating from there again in September this year.
While at the hospital Mr Marshall said that facility planning for the hospital site would soon begin. He said Hunter New England Health would be looking at the current services and facilities with a view to establishing a masterplan for the hospital.
“I’m keen to see this work start so the community and I can look more broadly at health needs in Moree for the next 20 to 30 years and the infrastructure we need to support that,” he said.