New Nepean Hospital Surgical Wing to Reduce Penrith Waiting Times
Residents of Penrith will have shorter waiting times and greater access to surgical procedures with the opening of a new surgical wing at Nepean hospital.
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Previous MinistersJoint Release
The Hon Tanya Plibersek MP
Federal Minister For Health
The Hon Jillian Skinner MP
NSW Minister for Health
The Hon David Bradbury MP
Federal Member For Lindsay
The Hon Stuart Ayres MP
NSW Member For Penrith
12 March 2012Residents of Penrith will have shorter waiting times and greater access to surgical procedures with the opening of a new surgical wing at Nepean hospital.
The Federal Minister for Health, Tanya Plibersek, and the NSW Minister for Health, Jillian Skinner, who officially opened the $87million East Block today, said the extension was part of a $139 million joint investment by the Commonwealth ($96.4M) and State ($42.6M) Governments to significantly redevelop Nepean hospital.
The new East Block features six operating theatres, an Ambulatory Procedure Centre and two surgical wards able to accommodate a total of 60 patients.
Minister Plibersek said it was an investment in health services in Penrith for both now and into the future.
“Penrith is one of the fastest growing areas in Australia and the expansion of the hospital will mean that local people will be able to get health care when they need it and where they need it,” Ms Plibersek said.
“The facility will boost the number of surgical services offered by the hospital and will go a long way towards reducing surgery waiting lists for patients.”
Minister Skinner said the NSW Government was committed to boosting health services in the Penrith region.
“The East Block enhances patient experience with improved facilities and greater capacity and provides an improved working environment for staff,” Minister Skinner said.
“The building has been designed to include capacity for future expansion to meet the needs of the growing population in the Penrith region,” she said.
“The Ambulatory Procedure Centre will assist in the management of patients coming to hospital for surgery and contains extra day only and extended day only beds plus additional surgical clinic rooms for outpatient care.”
The Federal Member for Lindsay, David Bradbury, and the State Member for Penrith, Stuart Ayres, also attended today’s opening.
Mr Bradbury said these improvements to local hospital services will be of huge benefit to the Western Sydney community.
“This is the biggest Federal Government investment made in Nepean Hospital, in its history,” Mr Bradbury said.
“This is about ensuring that local residents have access to the health services they need, in state of the art facilities.
“The Federal Labor Government fought hard to secure this $96.4 million funding under the Health and Hospitals fund, which was brought forward during the Global Financial Crisis under the stimulus package.
“I am delighted to see the East Block completed and I thank everyone who worked so hard to make it possible.”
Today’s event also celebrated the opening of Stage Two of a new Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at Nepean Hospital.
The refurbishment of ICU in the adjoining South Block increases the unit’s capacity to 24 intensive care beds and five specialised isolation rooms; a relocated and extended cardiovascular ultrasound department; and additional facilities such as waiting and procedures rooms, staff offices and a training room.
The jointly funded$139 million Nepean hospital re-development will also include a new Centre for Oral Health with capacity for 32 new dental chairs due for completion later this year and a new purpose-built, 64-bed Mental Health Unit is due for completion in 2013.
A multi-storey car park is scheduled to be completed in 2013.
For media inquiries, please contact Minister Plibersek’s office on 02 6277 7220
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