BY RUBY VAN DE WIJGAART
The construction of the $890 Million John Hunter Health, and Innovation Precinct has been completed.
With staff orientation, system testing and equipment instalment underway, the final stage has begun with the acute services building expected to be open to patients later this year.
The new seven-storey building includes a new emergency department, projected to accommodate up to 95,000 patients each year.
It also features 22 new operating theatres and nine interventional suites to accommodate increased demand for procedural services, with the services expected to increase the units capacity by 60 per cent.
Moreover new birthing suites, inpatient maternity, special care units and a neonatal intensive care unit have also been added.
The recent state budget delivered a $55 million boost to the development, which increased the total investment to $890 Million -- making it the largest hospital redevelopment outside of Sydney.
The new expansion is connected via four bridges to the existing Hunter Medical Research Institute, maintaining a connection between the two buildings and specialties.
The new infrastructure introduces more opportunities for education, training and further employment to aid the current availability.
John Hunter Hospital executive general manager Julie Tait said the next step will be finding staff.
"I think staffing numbers in NSW are challenging" Julie Tait admitted.
"We are constantly trying to recruit and fill.
"Certainly we do carry vacancies on occasion but we have many plans to trying to increase that [staffing numbers]."
Hunter Minister Yasmin Catley said it's a massive milestone for the Hunter.
"The Hunter is growing, and our health services need to grow with it," she said.
"For too long, people outside of Sydney have had to travel further than they should for specialist care and our investment means more people across the Hunter can get world-class treatment closer to home."
John Hunter Hospital Executive General Manager Julie Tait, Hunter Minister Yasmin Catley, Newcastle MP Tim Crakanthorp. Picture: Ian Crouch
