The masterplan for the new $260 million Eurobodalla Regional Hospital at Moruya has been revealed in a media release by the Premier Dominic Perrottet today.
Sent out selectively to media the Premier said "We’ve listened to the community, experts in health planning and our clinical and allied health staff. They want this new hospital to grow with the residents of the Eurobodalla and that’s what my government is delivering”.
“There’ll be MRI services, greater ED capacity, an ICU/Close Observation Unit and space for staff education and training in one of the largest greenfield hospital developments underway in NSW.”
Health Minister Brad Hazzard has said on numerous occasions that the Eurobodalla Regional Hospital will be built to accommodate a Level 4 health facility.
“We will be delivering so much more than is currently in the district including a new MRI, an 8 bed intensive care unit and enhanced oncology services. It will be up to the Local Health District to recruit all of the specialist clinicians necessary to operate a Level 4 hospital and that’s what will be delivered,” Mr Hazzard has said.
It has however been noted that neither the Premier or the Health Minister have acknowledged that their announcements offer no time-line in the delivery of a full level Four hospital.
This continued failure was the key point at the recent Open the Door at Level Four public rally held in Moruya.
Mr Hazzard has said “It doesn’t matter whether you live in Narooma, Moruya or Bateman’s Bay you will have outstanding medical care as close to where you live as possible. Our nurses, doctors, allied health staff will be able to deliver care from a state-of-the-art hospital.
“Once completed, the new hospital will provide more beds than are currently available in both Moruya and Batemans Bay hospitals combined.”
In the media release issued following the media call it says:
"The NSW Government recently announced a $500 million boost to its investment in rural health services and infrastructure.
"The new South Coast facility will feature the latest technology and models of care and improved Emergency Department capacity, specialist consultation rooms, an expansion of medical imaging including a second x-ray machine and MRI, as well as other amenities including space for staff education and training.
The formal State Significant Development Application (SSDA) planning process for the new hospital has commenced and consultation will continue to develop the application, including a detailed Environmental Impact Statement (EIS).
The master plan and early designs have been prepared in collaboration with clinicians, operational staff, local Aboriginal community representatives and community members.
The site acquisition process is proceeding, and early and enabling works are expected to start in 2022.
Construction of a facility of this size generally takes between two to three years to complete and is expected to open to patients in 2025.
Meanwhile there is no commitment that the Eurobodalla Regional Hospital will include, at the time of opening its doors in 2025, the full suite of facilities that would satisfy a Level Four hospital being:
· An emergency department
· an eight bed Intensive Care Unit (ICU) /Close Observation Unit (COU)
· increased capacity for chemotherapy treatments
· surgical and operating theatres
· expanded medical imaging, including MRI and additional X-ray
· Ambulatory care for community outpatient services
· Paediatric and maternity services - including inpatient beds
· Flexible mental health beds associated with the medical inpatient unit and
· enhanced education and training facilities.
Photo: Moruya Mail
