Northern Beaches Hospital starts to take shape

The new Northern Beaches Hospital will soon start to rise from the ground.

The new Northern Beaches Hospital will soon start to rise from the ground.

Since construction began last July, all the work on the Frenchs Forest site has been at ground level or below.

But with the foundations and internal roads now in place, Premier Mike Baird said northern beaches residents can expect to see the hospital take shape.

NSW Premier Mike Baird, and Frenchs Forest High student Sophie Jukes leave their handprints in the concrete at the new Northern Beaches Hospital site.

“This is the time it starts to get really exciting,” said Mr Baird during a tour of the site yesterday.

“The hospital leaps from the ground and the community starts to see what is going to be a world-class health facility for this community.”

He said construction was ahead of schedule despite the recent rain.

The State Government has partnered with the private operator Healthscope to design, build and operate the new hospital.

Healthscope will manage care for private and public patients when it opens.

An artist's impression of the new Northern Beaches Hospital.

Mr Baird was joined on the tour by Health Minister Jillian Skinner and Davidson MP Jonathan O’Dea.

To mark the construction milestone, Mr Baird left a handprint in concrete along with Forest High School student Sophie Jukes.