The $632 million upgrade of Campbelltown Hospital will start just as the previous $134 million redevelopment is being wrapped up with the launch of cardiac catheterization labs next week.
Campbelltown and Camden Hospital general manager Alison Derrett took the local media on a tour of the hospital yesterday to show them the massive increase in facilities that was achieved with the $134 million redevelopment.
The northern edge of the hospital building is now a stone’s throw from the private hospital on Park Central and the next upgrade will bring them even closer.
“Just imagines what will be achieved with five times more money than that,’’ Ms Derrett said, referring to the State Government’s announcement of the $632 million upgrade.
Ms Derrett confirmed that planning has already commenced for the latest upgrade of Campbelltown Hospital, even though just over $4 million had been allocated in this year’s State Budget.
The completed upgrade will take four or five years and will bring world class health care to the south west community, especially in Macarthur.
The Campbelltown Hospital will be comparable to Liverpool Hospital in all but a few specific functions such as heart surgery.
Ms Derrett said the funding has come at an important time because Macarthur was experiencing unprecedented growth.
“With so many young families living and relocating to the south west, I’m very pleased the funding will allow us to provide enhanced paediatric services,” Ms Derrett said.
[social_quote duplicate=”no” align=”default”]“Having more space for outpatient and ambulatory services will mean specialist clinics can be held in Campbelltown, so children with conditions like severe asthma and epilepsy won’t have to travel to other areas for appointments.’’[/social_quote]
Once the full upgrade is completed it will deliver increases in both the volume and level of services being provided at Campbelltown Hospital.
This will further reduce the need for patients to travel out of the area to access health services.
“There will be more inpatient beds which will allow children to be cared for close to home and additional special care beds will mean babies can be looked after close to where their families live,’’ Ms Derrett said.
“Our busy emergency department will also receive a boost, with an increase in the number of treatment spaces as well as the number of beds in the Emergency Short Stay Unit. This will help the hospital respond to the increasing demand for emergency care.”
Ms Derrett said the funding would also enable important improvements to acute and longer term inpatient and community based mental health services.
“This will include both specialist services for older people, adolescents and young people as well as additional beds for acute and non-acute adult mental health services,” she said.
There will be an increase in the number of Intensive Care Unit beds allowing patients to be managed at Campbelltown Hospital.
“This will reduce the need for transfers because more complex medical and surgical services will be provided locally.
“With millions of dollars being invested locally, this is a really exciting time for the people of Campbelltown and its surrounding suburbs.”
The $632 million upgrade to Campbelltown Hospital will also mean:
Diagnostic services – more medical imaging equipment
Inpatient facilities – increased number of medical, surgical, maternity and neonatal beds in response to additional demand for these services from a growing population
Ambulatory care facilities – more clinic rooms and other ambulatory spaces mean that patients can access more outpatient services
Refurbishments – the upgrade of a number of facilities, including adolescent mental health.
