Ryde Hospital: new plans lodged to rebuild site, boost waiting times

An outdated Sydney hospital is one step closer to undergoing a major transformation in a move to meet the strain on existing services and soaring population growth.

An outdated Sydney hospital is one step closer to undergoing a major transformation in a move to meet the strain on existing services and soaring population growth.

The State Government is pushing ahead with plans to expand Ryde Hospital with new and improved emergency, critical care, medical, and ambulatory care services.

The proposal – budgeted at $479 million – would involve expanding surgical facilities, providing new acute and subacute beds for medicine, and improving surgery facilities.

A concept plan of the redevelopment.

There would also be a capacity boost to the hospital’s paediatric and ambulance-based treatment wards.

Plans stated the site is currently “ill-equipped to meet” rising demand for patients and ambulance services.

Health Infrastructure NSW said the development was also aimed at boosting the hospital’s capacity to treat patients, and could also reduce hospital waiting times.

The development is partly aimed at bringing the site into the 21st century.

“The hospital currently does not have sufficient built infrastructure to accommodate the projected inpatient and ambulatory requirements to the future need,” the plans stated.

“There is also ageing infrastructure on site that will not be suited to the future needs of the hospital.

“The project will reduce the pressure on the existing facilities at Ryde Hospital and within the wider Northern Sydney Local Health District.

A concept plan of the development.

“Overall, the project will provide an efficient work environment for staff and a high standard of amenity for patients.”

Plans show the development would involve bulldozing nine separate buildings including the emergency department to make way for the new healthcare facilities as well as a multistorey carpark, offices, and retail areas.

Other features of the development include revised emergency vehicle parking and short term public parking areas for patient drop-offs.

A site plan, showing in yellow which sections of the hospital would be demolished.

Health Infrastructure NSW said “the operation of the hospital will be kept to a minimum by implementing a staged approach to construction.”

The plans came after the State Government considered relocating the hospital to a new site at Macquarie University’s North Ryde campus as part of the development.

The plan was ultimately abandoned after feedback from residents and hospital staff supported retaining the hospital on its current site, which has been operating since 1934.

The proposal is classified as a state significant development and has been lodged to the Department of Planning for assessment.