BY MIA GORSEVSKI
The New Maitland Hospital opened on Wednesday with new and improved facilities.
Set to replace the current hospital in High Street, the new $500 million hospital is focused on enhancing healthcare for the community into a state-of-the-art, modernized facility.
Maitland MP Jenny Aitchison says it's exciting to see a bigger centre for the region.
"It's close to doubling of the capacity of hospital beds in Maitland," Ms Aitchison said.
"I know having the cancer services there is really important for people and that will attract, as it already is starting to, other extra services that will come in."
The new hospital includes improved infrastructure and equipment such as a rooftop helicopter pad, chemotherapy chairs, and a cath lab for heart patients.
The hospital has also included negative pressure rooms, which are likely to prove helpful in dealing with the region's COVID outbreak.
It's hoped the transition to the new facility will be a smooth one, despite the recent pressure on the medical system.
"A big issue always is staffing and resourcing, it doesn't matter how large the hospital is, if the number of staff there are not enough to support the workload then that will be the issue," Ms Aitchison said.
"That's something we will be monitoring very closely."
Ms Aitchison says it's a day every single person in Maitland can be proud of.
"It is probably one of the most accessible local public campaigns in our state," Ms Aitchison said.
"It has really managed to ensue that the government follows the will of the people, which is to have a fully public hospital."
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| Image credit: newmaitlandhospital.health.nsw.gov.au |
