Construction of a new hospital building in Western Sydney has been finished earlier than planned, allowing it to provide hundreds of beds to COVID-19 patients if the need arises.
The new Central Acute Services Building, part of the Westmead Health Precinct, includes two new emergency departments, one for adults and one for children, and more than 300 patient rooms.
Once operational, it will also feature digital operating theatres, expanded imaging, pharmacy and logistics, more spaces with natural light, a landscaped entry plaza, and education and research facilities on each floor.
One and a half floors will be for the University of Sydney to enable greater integration of education, research and health services delivery.
New South Wales Premier Gladys Berejiklian said the new hospital building is the centrepiece of the $1 billion-plus Westmead Redevelopment.
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“Major construction has finished three months ahead of schedule, meaning this cutting-edge building will bring additional health services to Western Sydney at a critical time.” Berejiklian said.
“This redevelopment will help ensure our health system continues to provide high-quality healthcare, research and education facilities for decades to come, as well as ensuring the system can deal with potential surges in COVID-19 cases.”
The NSW Government is actively planning ahead for a range of options to expand physical and resource capacity of health facilities and areas for self-isolation due to COVID-19.
NSW Health Minister Brad Hazzard said that once up and running, the new facility will not only transform healthcare in Western Sydney but will provide a centre for ground-breaking health research to benefit every Australian.
“Our health experts will be working alongside top medical and scientific researchers in this new 14-storey hub, which embeds staff from The University of Sydney, and includes research, education and training facilities,” Hazzard said.
The Central Acute Services Building is a collaboration between Westmead Hospital, The Children’s Hospital at Westmead, the University of Sydney and Health Infrastructure.
In the coming months, work will be carried out to complete equipment installation and other preparations for the opening and staged move of services and staff.