3 December 2013

A major milestone on the $282 million redevelopment of Wagga Wagga Base Hospital was marked today with the commencement of main works on-site.

The sheer scale and size of this redevelopment cannot be underestimated. This is the single largest hospital rebuild happening in regional NSW right now.

This facility really will change the way health care is delivered to this community once the new acute hospital building complete in 2015.

The construction site is being cleared and prepared with the demolition of Gissing House now complete. The new mortuary, stores and new central loading dock is on track for completion by the end of the year. Excavation and piling works will begin in the new year, with the first concrete pour of the new acute hospital scheduled to occur by mid-2014.

The new acute hospital will deliver an enhanced emergency department, operating theatres, women’s and children’s replacement inpatient units, new intensive care and high dependency units, angiography suites, additional inpatient beds and a rooftop helipad.

The new hospital will provide the platform for new models of care focussed on the needs of patients including:
  • additional acute overnight inpatient capacity;
  • expanded emergency department;
  • expanded operating theatre suite including recovery capacity;
  • cardiac catheterisation laboratory & angiography suite;
  • women’s and children’s inpatient unit additional birthing suites;
  • expansion of the central sterilising services department, and
  • expanded medical imaging department.
The $282 million redevelopment is a jointly funded project, with the NSW Government providing $215 million and the Australian Government contributing $55.1 million from its Health and Hospitals Fund (HHF) Program. A further $12 million has been allocated from the Australian Government under the COAG New Sub-Acute Beds Guarantee for 20 sub-acute mental health beds.

$400,000 was also announce to progress planning for the next stage of the Wagga Wagga Base Hospital redevelopment covering ambulatory care and rehabilitation services. The planning process will be an extensive one, which will involve consultation with local staff, clinicians and management to identify the key clinical priorities. The Murrumbidgee Local Health District will determine details of the development based on future clinical needs of Wagga Wagga Health Service following local consultation. Planning will commence in early 2014 and it is anticipated that the first stage of planning will be finalised by late 2014.