Opening of new Tweed Valley Hospital at Cudgen delayed after work held up by Covid, 2022 floods
The Tweed’s much-needed new $723m hospital, which an ex-mayor once barracked against due to its location, will open late after Covid and the floods hit hard. Here’s the latest.
Tweed Heads
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A new opening date has been set for the $723 million Tweed Valley Hospital at Cudgen after Covid and the record northern NSW floods impacted work, among other factors.
The hospital, controversially springing up on former State Significant Farmland a stone’s throw from Kingscliff CBD, is due be finished this year and open early next year.
The former NSW Coalition government flagged more than 600 jobs in construction and scores more will be up for grabs once the new hospital opens.
Currently, the Tweed Hospital at Tweed Heads is ageing rapidly and stretched due to the expanded local population – and added pressure considering its position near the Queensland-NSW border and the Gold Coast.
The new hospital is rising after considerable debate over the location – former Tweed mayor Katie Milne even barracked against the Cudgen site which was ultimately picked.
It was previously revealed about 20 per cent of patients using the current hospital and almost 40 per cent of staff lived in Queensland. A similar situation is expected at the new hospital.
In a statement, Northern NSW Local Health District said it was working with Health Infrastructure and the contractor to have the hospital functional as early as possible.
Lendlease Building is the managing contractor for the build and has subcontracted work.
Construction has been interrupted by the pandemic, floods, construction industry labour shortages and global supply chain interruptions.
The new hospital will provide more beds, an expanded emergency department and enhanced medical, surgical and mental health services. It will also include expanded outpatient services with more clinics, a new interventional cardiology service and a new radiotherapy service as part of integrated cancer care.
The health district’s Acting Chief Executive Lynne Weir said the new opening date would allow for “essential operational commissioning activities” to be undertaken.
“These include installing furniture, fixtures and equipment, as well as completing clinical cleans and stocking departments with medical consumables in preparation for receiving patients,” she said.
“Our staff orientation, inductions and training phases are also extremely important, and we look forward to working with our project teams and our workforce to make this process as smooth as possible.”
Ms Weir said the district was “collectively excited about what this new hospital means for the delivery of first-class health care to the Tweed Valley community”.
“I want to thank the project and construction staff for their tireless efforts and professionalism throughout this process,” she said.
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