Inspecting progress last Friday – Hunter New England Health Tablelands Sector General Manager Catherine Death, left, community advocate Bob Bensley, Councillor Paul King, Councillor Di Baker, Health Minister Brad Hazzard, Northern Tablelands MP Adam Marshall, Deputy Mayor Anthony Michael, NSW Health Infrastructure Manager Mark Brockbank, Inverell Hospital’s Kate McCosker, Richard Crookes Constructions’ Luke Gerrathy and APP project supervisor Stewart Driver
Tuesday, 11 June 2019
IN his first visit since construction started, Minister for Health Brad Hazzard inspected progress on the $60 million Inverell Hospital redevelopment last Friday, as part of a tour of important health infrastructure in the region.
Northern Tablelands MP Adam Marshall said he was delighted to host Minister Hazzard to inspect the construction work and discuss the pending hospital redevelopments and upgrades in Moree and Glen Innes.
“It’s important the Minister saw the new facility taking shape first-hand and had the opportunity to hear directly from the community on the benefits of this important project,” Mr Marshall said.
“I was also able to press the case, on behalf of the community, for the inclusion of a new CT scanner in the hospital to ensure this service is available in Inverell when needed.
“Provision for an expansion to house a scanner are included in the plans, but I want it locked in and installed as part of the redevelopment.
“The construction work is progressing well on stage 1 and should be finished by August next year, with the first patients being admitted in October 2020.
“It was great to see everything going so smoothly, to hear about the 17 local businesses which have secured work on the site and to hear the excitement from hospital staff about the new facility. I thank the community for their enthusiasm and support for this redevelopment.”
In February this year plans for Stage 2 of the redevelopment were released, showing how the existing hospital buildings would be refurbished to provide more contemporary ambulatory care and community health functions like chronic disease management and mental health services.
Minister Hazzard congratulated Mr Marshall, Inverell Shire Council and the community for their passion in fighting to secure the full redevelopment.
“It really is fantastic to see this modern, state-of-the-art hospital taking form,” Mr Hazzard said.
“I know the community has been campaigning for this redevelopment for many years and to see it finally coming together is testament to the hard work of residents like Bob Bensley alongside Adam Marshall, to make sure this project is delivered.
“It makes me proud as the Minister to say once complete, this hospital will ensure Inverell has one of the best primary and allied health precincts in country NSW – all under the one roof – which will meet the health needs of the entire community for years to come.”
The redeveloped Inverell Health Service will deliver expanded health care services and facilities to the community, including:
- New Emergency Department including emergency care for children and mental health-related presentations
- New 38-bed Inpatient Unit including:
- Paediatric facilities
- Maternity and birthing facilities
- General adult services including palliative care
- New Medical Imaging Department (including identified future expansion zone)
- New Operating Theatre
- New Central Sterilising Unit
- New Day Surgery Unit (increase of 1 space to 6)
- New Renal Dialysis Unit (increase of 2 chairs to 8)
- New main entry and admissions area
- New Mortuary
Services provided from Stage 2 will include adult ambulatory care, mental health, women’s and children’s, dental clinic, chronic disease treatment programs and allied health.