Health Minister, Jillian Skinner today officially opened the upgraded Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at the John Hunter Children's Hospital.
Work on the $7 million Stage 1 project began in May last year and now provides 32 special care spaces, a palliative care room, showering facilities, a breast feeding and expressing room, new waiting area, three counselling rooms and a family room with overnight accommodation.
The unit is now double its previous size and can cater for 1100 newborns each year in state-of-the-art facilities.
"When I first visited the old Neonatal Unit Intensive Care Unit I was shocked at how cramped it was...the space for one baby was the space for four," Mrs Skinner said.
Stages 2 and 3 of the project will include a redeveloped intensive care unit, isolation rooms, a procedure room, staff training areas and office spaces at a cost of $18 million.
Work on Stage 2 began last month.
Mrs Skinner also visited Tomaree Hospital today to inspect the soon-to-be-completed upgrade to the emergency department which was funded through a bequest from local couple, Tom and Rose Pearce and a contribution from Hunter New England Health.
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| Health Minster Jillian Skinner At Today's Official Opening |
