The business case for Inverell District Hospital is on its way to the NSW Treasury, waiting for the green light to deliver equipment and services surpassing the initial plans.
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Exactly what is in the business plans remains semi-confidential, but Member for Northern Tablelands Adam Marshall said they are consistent with the Inverell community consultation and NSW clinical services plan.
Mr Marshall said included in the plans are:
- A new emergency department, including emergency care for children and separate space for mental health-related presentations
- New in-patient unit for maternity, pediatric,palliative care and general medical ward
- New medical imaging centre and a CT scanner
- New operating theatre and associated sterilising unit
- New day-surgery unit
- New dialysis unit with an increased capacity
- New main entry, admissions
- New mortuary
- New dedicated ambulance entry/exit for the emergency department
“What that means – all the plans all the costings, the details of what’s in the hospital, what services are going to be provided, and that gets submitted and that has to be approved by Treasury,” Mr Marshall said.
“They run the ruler over it, to make sure that what they say they’re going to build is actually costed correctly, and it all stacks up; it’s a forensic quantity surveyor look at the proposal that Hunter New England Health (HNEH) are putting forward.”
Mr Marshall said he has put a shoulder to the redevelopment in order to escalate its time-frame since the initial million for planning was allocated for Inverell hospital in the 2016-17 NSW State Budget.
“I wanted it done in a 12-month period, so that I could be in a position to lobby to get the capital in the upcoming budget, which is the ‘17-18 state budget, so we could actually put a spade in the ground and start construction,” Mr Marshall said.
If that happens, Mr Marshall said he hoped that might commence as early as late 2017.
After the business plans are approved, HNEH chief executive Michael di Roenzo has committed to a community forum in Inverell where people can view the artist’s impressions, detailed designs, and provide experts to answer questions.
Mr Marshall said plans will be put in place for uninterrupted hospital services the during the period of the redevelopment.