Health Minister Jillian Skinner was joined today by Member for Hornsby Matt Kean and Liberal candidate for Ku-ring-gai Alister Henskens to announce a $200 million commitment to the next stage of the major redevelopment of Hornsby Ku-ring-gai Hospital.
Mrs Skinner said work on Stage 2 - a purpose-built, multi-storey clinical services building - will begin if the Baird Government is re-elected on March 28.
Mrs Skinner made the announcement while touring the hospital's new STAR building - the centrepiece of the $120 million Stage 1 redevelopment.
During the tour they inspected prototype rooms in an inpatient ward and met staff in the Health Information Services department - the first department to move into the new STAR building.
"What a great day for a great hospital which has always provided outstanding care to patients, even as the infrastructure has aged and grown tired," Mrs Skinner said.
"The STAR building is exceptional, a state-of-the-art building dedicated to surgical services.
"Today I share the excitement of staff and patients as they begin to occupy this wonderful $120 million building - and I am thrilled to announce a re-elected Baird Government will invest a further $200 million in Stage 2."
The five-storey STAR building - which represents Surgical, Theatres, Anaesthetic and Recovery - will be fully operational in September. It houses:
· three 28-bed inpatient units
· eight new operating theatres (including one dedicated endoscopy procedure room);
· sterilising services department;
· pathology services;
· kitchens;
· new supply and loading dock
· Health Information Services department (formerly known as Medical Records).
"I am delighted the Health Information Services team has been implementing document imaging, whereby all patient records will become digitally available - this is the future of health," Mrs Skinner said.
Planning for Stage 2 of the hospital redevelopment is well underway. Stage 2, which will be physically linked to the STAR building, will include :
· a major upgrade to the emergency department;
· extra inpatient beds;
· paediatric, imaging and ambulatory care services.
Mr Kean said announcing funding for Stage 2 while touring Stage 1 was new cause for celebration.
"For years, under Labor, the Hornsby community's pleas for a hospital upgrade fell on deaf ears," Mr Kean said.
"I am proud the Baird Government has delivered on its promise to upgrade Hornsby Ku-ring-gai Hospital, to ensure the highest quality patient care for years to come."
Mr Henskens said: "This is tremendous news for Ku-ring-gai residents - the Baird Government has a proven record of delivering better health infrastructure and better health care to the people of NSW."
