Liverpool, Bankstown-Lidcombe Hospital redevelopments: bid to fast track hospital openings

A bid to fast track the redevelopment of two southwest Sydney hospitals to meet major populations growth has been revealed. SEE THE PLANS HERE.

The new $1.3 billion Bankstown-Lidcombe Hospital, as well as the $740 million redevelopment of Liverpool Hospital, would be open and serving the community by 2023 — if Labor’s plea to the government to fast track the plans are answered.

Jodi McKay, Liverpool state Labor MP Paul Lynch, NSW Nurses and Midwives Liverpool Branch Secretary, Heidi McNamara, and Opposition Health spokesman Ryan Park outside Liverpool Hospital. Picture: Jake McCallum

Opposition Leader Jodi McKay and Labor Health spokesman Ryan Park revealed their bid to see the multibillion-dollar south west Sydney Local Health District developments fast-tracked through the planning system exclusively with NewsLocal.

Ms McKay said the government had an opportunity to “meet the needs of enormous population growth and create stimulus”.

THE GREAT DIVIDE — SYDNEY’S HEALTH CRISIS

Part One: south west patients funded $800 less per person than Sydney residents

Part Two: south west patients forced to travel hours for treatment

Part Three: leaders are calling for a new hospital at Aerotropolis

Part Four: 24,000 new medical students needed to fight west’s growth

Part Five: Patients waiting 300 days for surgery in south west Sydney

Part Six: south west teens shock youth suicide numbers as specialist staff numbers revealed

Part Seven: Claims health department removed beds from state’s busiest EDs

Part Eight: Where mini-metro hospitals will be built across Sydney

Part Nine: Kids enduring 18-month wait times for paediatric services

Part Ten: Hospital staff reveal hospital horror stories in calls for funding

Part Eleven: ‘Young doctors committing suicide over workloads’, inquiry hears

Part Twelve: NSW Government delisted land earmarked for hospital

Part Thirteen: NSW Health failed to assess hospital development projects

“The government is focused on building motorways and infrastructure projects,” Ms McKay said. “But given the hospitals in southwest Sydney can’t cope with the current patient load, there is an opportunity to address major issues and fast-track the redevelopment of Liverpool Hospital and the construction of the new Bankstown-Lidcombe Hospital.”

Opposition Leader Jodi McKay is calling for the NSW Government to fast track Liverpool and Bankstown-Lidcombe Hospital redevelopments. Picture: Jake McCallum.

The Opposition Leader said the government had the opportunity to fast track thousands of jobs and inject billions of dollars into the local economy.

Ryan Park argued the fast-tracked redevelopment of one of Sydney’s busiest hospitals would “relieve pressure on the hospital as the community continues to grow”.

“This is a hospital that urgently needs the expansion to cope with the existing and growing population,” Mr Park said.

Ryan Park at Liverpool Hospital. Picture: Jake McCallum

“The government can fix two things by helping to create jobs and support and growing community and also support a community that, in my view, hasn’t been able to get the health services they deserve.”

Under Labor’s plan, the two new hospitals would see construction start next year, with the health precincts complete by the end of 2023.

Currently, the redevelopment of Liverpool Hospital is scheduled for completion by 2026, while a timeline for the completion of the new Bankstown-Lidcombe Hospital is yet to be announced.

NSW Nurses and Midwives Liverpool Branch Secretary, Heidi McNamara outside Liverpool Hospital. Picture: Jake McCallum

NSW Nurses and Midwives Liverpool Branch Secretary, Heidi McNamara, said based on the projected population increases and current demands on south west Sydney hospitals, the current time frame for the redevelopment of Liverpool Hospital was “not suitable”.

“We run at 100 per cent capacity every single day,” Ms McNamara said.

“We are coping with the demand at the moment, but as the population skyrockets we are concerned our community will not receive the care that the deserve.”

Artist impressions for the new emergency department planned for the current Bankstown-Lidcombe Hospital.

A NSW Health Infrastructure spokesman said planning for the health redevelopment projects was “well progressed, with the development application for the $740 million Liverpool Health and Academic Precinct and $50 million hospital car park currently under review by the Department of Planning, Industry and Environment”.

“The project is on track with early construction works underway and the main works

construction is expected to start early next year, pending planning approval,” the spokesman said.

Liverpool Hospital. Picture: Jake McCallum.

“The NSW Government has committed $1.3 billion to redevelop Bankstown-Lidcombe

Hospital on a new site and construction will commence during this term of government.”

In July, following NewsLocal’s southwest Sydney ‘Great Divide’ campaign, NSW Health Infrastructure revealed suitable sites for the new hospital were being assessed through a series of Request for Information submissions.

“This coincides with the clinical services planning process which is progressing to confirm

the range and type of health care services the new hospital will provide,” the spokesman said. “The clinical services planning will further inform the facility requirements and ensure the hospital responds to the future health care needs of the local community.”