Hurstville Private Hospital has opened its new medical services unit, which will provide patients with specialist care and ease the pressure off hospital emergency departments.
The unit, which is the latest part of the hospital’s re-development project, will cater for private patients who need acute medical or ongoing post-operative care.
It includes a 22-bed ward staffed by clinical nurse specialists.
Patients with respiratory conditions including pneumonia, asthma and severe flare ups of lung diseases such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, will benefit from the unit.
It will also cater for patients with heart failure and people with cancer who require sub-acute care.
The medical unit is an addition to the hospital’s existing high dependency and intensive care unit, pathology and imaging services.
Physiotherapists, dietitians, and diabetic and cardiovascular health educators will be available for consultation to patients upon request.
The hospital's chief executive officer Lloyd Adams said the new unit would help take the stress off the busy winter season.
“Emergency departments at the local public hospital are already bursting at the seams with this year’s hard-hitting and early-peaking flu season and are inundated with cases requiring hospitalisation,” he said.
“Hurstville Private Hospital offers a timely solution to those patients with private health cover on this occasion, but also for all their future medical needs.
“Our hospital has already engaged with bed management and patient flow coordinators from various public hospitals in the surrounding areas, to assist patients in accessing the medical and surgical services we offer.”
Patients can be admitted directly to the unit by their GP or by any doctors at public hospitals including St George Hospital and Sutherland Hospital.
Chris Dedousis and Tony Youssef are the primary care doctors who will manage the unit.
Mr Adams said the unit’s three doctors will combine their specialties in endocrinology and respiratory with aged-care.
"GPs or public hospital specialists can contact our hospital or any of these physicians directly to request admission for care or investigation of symptoms,” he said.
“With the new medical services unit, we aim to offer a complete approach to patient focused care, pivotal to enhancing the health and well-being of our community.
“Together with our new high-tech operating theatres, robotics surgery and the latest investigative procedures, we trust we will be at the forefront of delivering superior healthcare solutions to our community.”
