Red tape delays Camden Surgical Hospital construction

Red tape has halted construction of the Camden area’s first day hospital, triggering a nine-month delay for the highly-anticipated specialist medical hub.

Camden's first Day Surgery has been halted by red tape. Picture: Matthew Vasilescu

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Red tape has halted construction of the Camden area’s first day hospital, triggering a nine-month delay for the highly-anticipated specialist medical hub.

To be known as Camden Surgical Hospital, the private health facility will be located on Hilder St, Elderslie, and is expected to house up to 30 surgeons for a range of medical procedures.

An early artist’s impression of Camden Surgical Hospital.

Director Dr Matthew Gray, who works out of the neighbouring Schwarz Family Practice, told the Chronicle work on the multimillion-dollar project was expected to relaunch later this month.

Work on the health facility was halted in July last year.

“There has been a delay,” said Dr Gray. “The issues related to aspects of the land, things like riparian corridors.”

“Most of these issues were resolved just before Christmas so our hope and plan is for the recommencement (of the build) towards the end of March.”

“We remain committed to our vision of a state-of-the-art, multidisciplinary short-stay hospital that has exemplary surgeons, proceduralists, anaesthetists and support staff, who will provide our patients with a quality of service that is second to none.”

The multidisciplinary facility will cater for a range of specialist surgeries including ophthalmology, orthopaedic, neurosurgery, ENT (ear, nose and throat) and others.

Director Bruce Willmann previously told the Chronicle the Camden Surgical Hospital would reduce the need for people to leave the area for specialist health services.

“The issue for us is that there is just so much demand for health services in the area,” he said.

“The estimates are that a lot of people are travelling out of the area for surgical services and with all the growth coming its certainly something we thought we could be doing for Camden and the region.”

Camden Surgical Hospital is expected to be completed by the end of the year.