REDEVELOPMENT of the Dubbo Base Hospital is well on track and on budget according to a Health Infrastructure spokesperson.
Stages 1 and 2 of the $91.3million project are underway with a further $150m promised by NSW Health Minister Jillian Skinner earlier this year for stages 3 and 4 completion.
The redevelopment will include six new operating theatres, day-only and extended day-only ward for surgical services, inpatient ward and birthing suite for maternity services, a clinical sterilisation department including specialised equipment, upgraded renal unit and carpark upgrades.
Flooring and joinery work is underway and fixtures and fittings work is being done in maternity and theatre units.
Stage 1 and 2 development is funded with the NSW government providing $84.2m and the federal government $7.1m from its Health and Hospitals Fund.
The upgrade has been long overdue for the hospital, which caters for about 150,000 people annually, according to Mrs Skinner.
"Plans for refurbishment had been developed by the previous government but went back to the drawing board when doctors told us what was planned would just be renovating a dysfunctional site."
She said new operating theatres, a maternity unit and day surgery facilities would be completed by the end of the year.
"We will then immediately move forward with stages 3 and 4 of the master plan, delivering an emergency department, imaging facilities, ambulatory care centre and cardiac catheterisation laboratory in a new three-storey building."
To meet growing demand, Mrs Skinner said oncology, cardiovascular and stroke unit upgrades would form part of the stages 3 and 4 development to allow the intensive care unit to expand.
"A new front of house entry on Myall Street, drop-off zone and additional car parking will also form part of this major redevelopment."
Rebecca Sharpe
Journalist for The Land at Dubbo.
Journalist for The Land at Dubbo.
