An estimated 100 people brought a variety of questions about the hospital redevelopment to last week’s public information sessions organised by NSW Health infrastructure. The sessions held on Thursday afternoon and Friday morning, were staffed with officers from the department and Hunter New England Health, who represented different aspects of the planning and construction process.
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“Architects, protect managers and some of our staff clinicians were there,” Executive Director for Hunter New England Health Local Health Districts, Susan Heyman, said.
Ms Heyman said questions were focused on access, ward layouts, parking, plans for a proposed undercroft area, how the old and new hospital areas will connect to each other, and future growth opportunities. “There were some concerns about the paediatric bed but most people were happy,” she said.
Some queries were raised about the location of the maternity ward, related to possible noise from the babies affecting other patients but “you won’t hear that noise” Ms Heyman said explaining the ward area can be “enclosed” when needed.
“People welcomed the opportunity to learn more about the redevelopment,” she said. “Part of our job is to try and get the answers out there [so people] really understand the project.
“All the written and verbal feedback we get, we consider carefully and look at how it might be incorporated into the next design stages.”
An earlier statement released by NSW Infrastructure said the redevelopment will incorporate maternity, paediatric and general adult services into an inpatient unit. Each area will have the capacity to allow for for flexible bed management depending on whether the hospital has more general adult, pregnant women or children admitted: “This innovative design, which allows staff the flexibility to adjust the unit according to patient mix has been rolled out in various facilities across the State with initial feedback from staff being positive.”
The design will reportedly create “improved clinical practices and security” and be able to cater to the community’s future needs.
