Construction work on the John Hunter Hospital Emergency Department has been fast-tracked to begin next week, with an additional 12 beds and new procedure room to provided.
The works are expected to take 2 months to complete and aim to ensure the hospital is prepared to deal with an expected spike in patients due to the flu, coming into the Winter months, and Covid-19.
Hunter New England Chief Executive, Michael DiRienzo is welcoming the additional capacity.
Parliamentary Secretary for the Hunter, Catherine Cusack has welcomed the project being brought forward.
The works are expected to take 2 months to complete and aim to ensure the hospital is prepared to deal with an expected spike in patients due to the flu, coming into the Winter months, and Covid-19.
Hunter New England Chief Executive, Michael DiRienzo is welcoming the additional capacity.
“The
additional beds and procedure room will be segregated from the current
Department. We are planning to use this for the treatment of paediatric
patients and allow the existing ED more options and beds for managing expected
surge with winter and COVID-19 response.”
“One
of the key benefits to these works is that they are able to be completed
without any operational impact to the existing ED,” Mr DiRienzo said.
Parliamentary Secretary for the Hunter, Catherine Cusack has welcomed the project being brought forward.
"John Hunter Hospital is one of the most important hospitals in Australia, it already has the busiest emergency departments in the State... and bringing forward the Emergency Department work will see an increase in capacity up to 40%, in response to the current health emergency," she said.
"It will involve improving procedures, improving out and in patient services, and improving internal operations. So it's not just an increase in ED capacity, it's a significant increase in productivity and a very significant improvement in the quality of work place, for staff and patients."
"It will involve improving procedures, improving out and in patient services, and improving internal operations. So it's not just an increase in ED capacity, it's a significant increase in productivity and a very significant improvement in the quality of work place, for staff and patients."
The project, part of John Hunter's $780 million Health and Innovation Precinct project is also set to boost the local economy and provide work in a 'critical time' as the Hunter faces an economic crisis and severe job loss.
"The record infrastructure investment program is critical to maintaining employment and people's well-being across the state... this infrastructure spend is incredibly well timed to not only give construction workers employment but will keep the economy running" said Catherine Cusack.
The
NSW Government’s $780 million John Hunter Health and Innovation Precinct will also deliver improvements to clinical services and facilities including a
new expanded ED, critical care services including in operating
theatres and intensive care, increased interventional and imaging services,
expanded inpatient units and enhanced ambulatory care
services.
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| John Hunter Hospital Main Entrance. |
