12 March 2012

New surgical wing of Nepean Hospital to reduce waiting times in Penrith

Patients 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 $87 million East Block today, said the extension was part of a $139 million joint investment by the Commonwealth ($96.4 million) and State ($42.6 million) governments to significantly redevelop Nepean Hospital.

The Federal Member for Lindsay, David Bradbury, and the State Member for Penrith, Stuart Ayres, also attended today’s opening, in addition to NSW Government MPs Bart Bassett (Londonderry), Tanya Davies (Mulgoa), Roza Sage (Blue Mountains), and Ray Williams (Hawkesbury).

The new East Block features six operating theatres, an Ambulatory Procedure Centre and two surgical wards able to accommodate 60 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,” 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.”

Minister Plibersek said it was an investment in health services in Penrith for 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,” Ms Plibersek said.

Today’s event also celebrated the opening of stage two of a new Intensive Care Unit at Nepean Hospital.

The refurbishment in the adjoining South Block increases the unit’s capacity to 24 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 the capacity for 32 dental chairs, due for completion later this year; plus a purpose-built, 64-bed mental health unit due to be finished next year.

A multi-storey car park should also be completed by next year.