Work begins on new hospital

Work has started on a 114 million private hospital that will bring 156 new beds to Wollongong and provide a shot in the arm for the regions health system

The group behind the ambitious project yesterday said geotechnical work had begun at the Crown St site west of Wollongong Hospital and would take about six weeks

Excavations would then begin and last up to six months pending a construction certificate

The project was expected to be finished in early to mid2014

Vascular surgeon Arthur Stanton one of two doctors behind the development said it would ease pressure on Wollongongs struggling public hospital and cut waiting times in casualty

Were probably one of the largest cities in Australia with the smallest private network and one of the advantages of having a strong private network is it augments the public hospital network Dr Stanton said

We all know as doctors that we treat private patients in the public system

Wollongong Private Hospital will include 156 beds 11 operating theatres an intensive care unit with about 20 beds the regions only hyperbaric oxygen chamber radiology and pathology services a maternity unit and GP centre

Theres a lot of benefits but the one that is stark and rises above the rest is the fact that we will be able to do cardiac surgery and lung cancer surgery something that we havent been able to do in this area Dr Stanton said

There will be a dedicated cardiac unit There will be a dedicated lung surgery unit which means we will be able to attract cardiothoracic surgeons

It is estimated that 90 jobs will be created during construction and the hospital will employ at least 300 staff once operational

The NSW Government signed off on the hospital plans in April last year

Dr Stanton said AA Crown Holdings the consortium behind the hospital was in discussions with property firm Colliers International about the commercial leasing of the medical suites

Geotechnical work now underway involved drilling soil samples to establish how excavation would proceed

Construction certificates would be applied for in stages

Date : 06 Apr, 2012
Reference : http://www.illawarramercury.com.au/news/local/news/general/work-begins-on-new-hospital/2513947.aspx

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