Sutherland Hospital will be given a completely new emergency department, rather than an expansion of the existing, old facility.
Health Minister Jillian Skinner revealed the change in plans today while ‘‘turning the first sod’’ for preliminary works for the project, which will cost more than $60 million.
Mrs Skinner said a new two-storey building would be built on the site of a car park next to the present emergency department.
The building would house a new emergency department at ground level, with 60 acute inpatient beds on the level above.
‘‘It’s even better than I anticipated,’’ she said.
‘‘Clearly, with the growth of the population in Sutherland Shire and the demands on the hospital, it is needed.’’
The new emergency department will have 44 treatment bays, including three resuscitation bays, while the 60 new acute inpatient beds will include six high dependency/intensive care beds.
Mrs Skinner said construction was expected to start by the end of this year.
She was seeking advice on when it would be completed.
The preliminary work involves the construction of a car park at the front of the hospital facing Kingsway, to make up for the car spaces that will be lost when the major project starts.
Mrs Skinner said mature Australian native trees would be planted in the hospital grounds to replace a row of trees which was cut down this week on the new car park site.
More in tomorrow’s Leader.
Are you pleased with the change in plans?