Tuesday, 20 June 2017
WORK on the Armidale Rural Referral Hospital redevelopment will soon be completed, with $29.5million allocated in today’s 2017-18 NSW Budget to complete the $60million project
Member for Northern Tablelands Adam Marshall said the money, which comes on the back of $30.5 million spent on the redevelopment this year, would ensure the fit-out would be to a world-class standard.
“This is the last money we need to crown Armidale Hospital as the gold standard for regional healthcare facilities,” Mr Marshall said.
“With the full structure of the $60 million redevelopment now standing, this funding will go towards beds, medical technology and creature comforts to ensure patients are well looked after during their visit.
“This is a great budget for health in the Northern Tablelands, We’ve seen $30 million for both Inverell and Armidale Hospitals – reaffirming my belief that no one’s health should be worse off in country NSW.
“By providing high quality facilities, our region will be able to attract the doctors and specialists it needs to help close the gap in regional health.
Mr Marshall said construction was slightly ahead of schedule.
“Visitors to Armidale Hospital now see the four storeys complete, with walls and cladding going up as we speak,” he said. “The first storey, which will house a state of the art emergency department, already has a full suite of utilities installed and the other levels follow closely behind.
“This project has been a long time coming – but now, we’re just months away from opening to patients. With this funding, we can walk through Armidale’s redeveloped hospital early next year.”
Mr Marshall said the new four-storey building will house the hospital’s new emergency department, new critical care unit, new in-patient ward, new operating theatres and a new sterilising unit.