what's happening / news / Sneak peek inside new $39 million St George Hospital Emergency Department
Health Minister Jillian Skinner and local MPs Mark Coure and John Flowers have toured the new $39 million St George Hospital emergency department, which is nearing completion.
Mrs Skinner, Mr Coure (Member for Oatley) and Mr Flowers (Member for Rockdale) inspected the emergency department, which is fully funded by the NSW Liberal & Nationals Government.
The trio then visited the hospital’s maternity unit to open a $27,000 infant resuscitation cot which will provide vital care to newborns experiencing problems after birth.
“The people of St George have watched with great interest as their new emergency department has taken shape,” Mrs Skinner said.
“Having walked through it, I share their excitement. It will be a wonderful facility for patients and staff alike.”
The new emergency department is about 75 per cent complete, with partition wall framing and services such as ducts and pipes in most rooms.
Mrs Skinner said the new emergency department - which is due to open in October - will boost capacity at a time of unprecedented growth.
“Once the emergency department is complete it will have expanded treatment areas to improve patient flow - not just in the emergency department but throughout the hospital,’’ Mrs Skinner said.
The new emergency department will provide two designated fast track zones, one for adults and the other for paediatrics.
The adult fast track zone features 14 treatment spaces (eight treatment spaces and six consultation rooms) and is designed for lower acuity patients who can be diagnosed and treated quickly.
At completion, the new emergency department will also include:
· five resuscitation bays
· an acute hall with 34 treatment spaces
· an Emergency Medical Unit
· relocation of Psychiatric Emergency Care Centre (PECC)
· satellite imaging
· expanded waiting and triage
· eight space off-street ambulance drop off zone
· potential for additional storeys to be added in future redevelopment stages.
Following the tour of the new emergency department, Mrs Skinner, Mr Coure and Mr Flowers visited the maternity unit to open the infant resuscitation cot.
The cot, valued at $27,000, has an inbuilt oxygen and air outlet for newborns who experience complications immediately after birth. This can prevent long-term damage to the brain.
“I was pleased to be able to purchase the cot from the Humpty Dumpty Foundation as it will provide invaluable, specialised care for St George Hospital’s smallest patients,” Mrs Skinner said.
Mr Coure and Mr Flowers welcomed the progress on the new emergency department.
Late last year the pair joined Mrs Skinner in announcing $800,000 to progress planning on a major redevelopment of St George Hospital, which would expand intensive care, high dependency and cardiac care services, create new operating theatres and enhance inpatient wards.
“It is a privilege to have the opportunity to view our new emergency department as it enters the final stages of construction,’’ Mr Coure said.
“I am proud to serve in the NSW Liberal & Nationals Government which is delivering vital health infrastructure projects such as this across the state.”
Mr Flowers said: “The new emergency department will be a state-of-the-art facility that will raise the standard of healthcare in the St George district. It will ensure St George Hospital can deliver frontline care to our growing community for many years to come.”
Construction of the St George Hospital emergency department will be complete in the second half of this year. It is expected it will open to the public in October.
Other major hospital redevelopments currently underway across Sydney include: Blacktown Mount Druitt Hospital ($324 million), Campbelltown Hospital ($139 million) and Hornsby Ku-ring-gai Hospital $120 million).