Drone vision released of $723m Tweed Valley Hospital build as new Rapid Outreach Service revealed, ambo station underway

Drone footage shows progress on the Tweed’s new state-of-the-art hospital, while a Rapid Outreach Service has been unveiled and work has started on a new ambulance station.

New drone footage has been released as the long-awaited new $723.3 million Tweed Valley Hospital at Cudgen inches closer to completion.

It comes as a new Rapid Outreach Service urgent care service has been unveiled for the Tweed Shire and construction has started on a new ambulance station at Kingscliff.

On Wednesday morning, Health Minister Ryan Park, Richmond MP Justine Elliot and Health Services Union secretary Gerard Hayes also announced free parking for patients and visitors at all regional hospitals in NSW, including Tweed.

The hospital due to open early next year is being on built former State Significant Farmland near Kingscliff CBD. The controversial location drew some criticism, with former Tweed Mayor Katie Milne joining protests.

Construction on Tweed Valley Hospital in July. Picture: Supplied

Mr Park said the hospital was one of the largest infrastructure projects in northern NSW and represented “a significant expansion of health services for the Tweed Valley community”.

“Both existing services as well as new services for the region will see around 5000 patients being treated closer to home each year,” he said.

“In addition to being able to deliver the existing hospital services more efficiently in a state-of-the-art facility, the Tweed Valley Hospital will also feature new radiation oncology and interventional cardiology services.”

Richmond MP Justine Elliot and Health Minister Ryan Park check out the new hospital equipment. Picture: Savannah Pocock

Richmond MP Justine Elliot said the hospital will provide “access to a broad range of treatment options close to home”.

Northern NSW Local Health District acting chief executive Lynne Weir said worker feedback helped shape the new hospital, which includes on-call accommodation and a learning centre.

Ms Weir said the hospital would be “a great drawcard for attracting new staff to the region”.

The car park will include more than 1000 free spaces.

Meanwhile, Mr Park revealed a new Rapid Outreach Service to reduce stress on emergency departments.

“The Rapid Outreach Service will enable patients to be treated in the comfort of their own homes, which will make a big difference,” he said.

The new hospital is due to open early next year. Picture: Savannah Pocock

“This model is designed to create better links between the hospital and primary care systems – providing an additional option for people to receive urgent care for injuries and illnesses when a GP is unavailable.

“We know there is a high and ongoing demand for emergency care in the Tweed region … ”

It comes as bulk billing is hard to find in the Tweed and many GPs are booked out days in advance.

Care will be provided at no cost to patients referred through avenues like Healthdirect, NSW Ambulance or emergency department staff and will include access to pathology, radiology and allied health services.

The service with care from GPs, nurses, allied health clinicians and paramedics starts late this year across Tweed and Byron.

Lismore MP Janelle Saffin said the service “removes the burden of having to travel to hospital or the GP for healthcare”.

Richmond MP Justine Elliot and Health Minister Ryan Park turning the first sod on the new Kingscliff Ambulance Station. Picture: Savannah Pocock

The NSW Government expects 25 urgent care services to be operational by mid-2025.

The politicians also spoke about the construction underway on the new two-storey Kingscliff Ambulance Station at the hospital site, set to replace the 65-year-old Marine Pde station.

It’s also due to open early next year.

NSW Ambulance station officer at Kingscliff Gary Francis, NSW Ambulance Northern zone superintendent Gavin Wood, North Coast chief superintendent Damian Hughes and duty operations officer Chris Bray are looking forward to the new facilities opening. Picture: Savannah Pocock

Mr Park said it would “bolster mobile emergency care for the local community”, while Ms Elliot said the station would match the “rapidly growing needs” of the area.

“Kingscliff deserves this brand new ambulance station which will match its rapidly growing needs,” Ms Elliot said.

An artist impression of Kingscliff Ambulance Station. Picture: Supplied

NSW Ambulance Assistant Commissioner Paula Sinclair said the organisation used “best practice modelling methodology to map triple-0 calls to determine the location for the new station”.