North Shore Health Hub to join private hospital at St Leonards

The north shore’s hospitals could gain a hotel nearby for those visiting loved ones, and workers such as nurses could gain key worker housing under plans for St Leonards.

Artist's impression of the North Shore Health Hub

The north shore’s hospitals could gain a hotel nearby for those visiting loved ones, and workers such as nurses could gain key worker housing under plans for St Leonards.

The hotel and housing is being touted for a site bound by Reserve Rd and Westbourne St, opposite North Shore Private Hospital.

The site is being used for industrial units.

Property group Dexus has construction under way for the first stage of its health and education precinct there — the $200 million North Shore Health Hub.

A nurse helps a patient using crutches. Picture: Thinkstock

The hub will comprise two towers (eight and six storeys) which will be home to medical services including dentistry, physiotherapy, pharmacies and general practice.

A major part of the hub will be operating theatres for the neighbouring private hospital. These will be managed by Ramsay Health Care.

Another major health provider, GenesisCare, will provide cancer treatment at the hub.

Oncologists will provide radiotherapy and chemotherapy.

North Shore Radiology will also provide services.

Patients will be able to walk between the building and hospital via a pedestrian bridge over Reserve Rd.

Dexus CEO Darren Steinberg said the Health Hub was just the start of the vision for the site.

A map showing how the precinct would fit among St Leonards medical sites. Picture: Dexus

A hotel could provide much-needed accommodation for families of patients, he said.

“We think there is a screaming need for that,” Mr Steinberg said.

He also flagged plans for homes targeted at health workers such as nurses.

The government has offered incentives to provide more housing for “key workers” in Sydney, including those in the medical field, to ensure a good supply of workers.

The hotel and housing are still in the planning stages and have yet to be approved by the government.

Dexus is aiming to deliver this second stage, which would include education centres, by 2025.

Planning Minister and Lane Cove state Liberal MP Anthony Roberts was at the Dexus announcement and said the Health Hub would provide 275 permanent jobs.

Willoughby Mayor Gail Giles-Gidney said people often cited the need to live close to health services and she welcomed the plans.

Dexus is hoping to lure more medical professionals to work at its Health Hub.

It claims its location and design, which includes cafes and on-site parking, will be more attractive to employers and patients.

The building is due to be completed by the end of next year.