Leaders have say on Rouse Hill Hospital location

Go west. Social researcher Mark McCrindle says the State Government must build Rouse Hill Hospital closer to the Blacktown part of the northwest growth zone, where birthrates are climbing.

Riverstone’s Nikki Bell gave birth to her son Parker at the busy maternity ward of Blacktown Hospital in November. Picture: David Swift

• Labor’s hospital promise
• No site announced for Rouse Hill Hospital

Go west. Social researcher Mark McCrindle says the State Government must build Rouse Hill Hospital closer to the Blacktown part of the northwest growth zone, where birthrates are climbing.

“For births, the Blacktown local government area is No. 1 by far and Blacktown Hospital sees more births than anywhere else,’’ he said.

Between 2007 and 2017, the birthrate in Hawkesbury dipped from 904 to 870.

The rate in The Hills decreased from 1795 to 1681 but births in Blacktown leapt from 5321 to 5749, indicating a need to open a hospital to the cradle of the state.

Rouse Hill Hospital would alleviate pressure off Blacktown and Hawkesbury hospitals. Picture: SKYview

“The overall increase across the three local government areas is 8300 and Blacktown’s driving it,’’ Mr McCrindle said.

“The idea is certainly right to have it in the areas in the northwest part of The Hills, whether it’s Rouse Hill or Riverstone.

Social researcher Mark McCrindle says Rouse Hill Hospital needs to be built west of Windsor Rd.

“If you look at where the pregnancies will come from, they will be more from the northwest than the north.”

Mr McCrindle said the hospital would ease pressure off Blacktown and Hawkesbury hospitals.

“Clearly this new maternity ward is going to get overflow births from Blacktown and that should be kept in mind,’’ he said.

“If you head west of Windsor Rd, that’s where the key demand will be.”

Riverstone state Liberal MP Kevin Conolly vowed that his government would announce the site for the hospital by the end of last year but failed to identify it.

This month, Labor pledged to inject double the amount of funds — $700 million — into the project if elected.

It would include maternity services, obstetrics, paediatric wards and a special care nursery.

It would also comprise of 300 beds, a figure which attracted negative comments on social media for not being enough.

“We’ve got larger households across The Hills than the state average and an ageing population as well,’’ Mr McCrindle said.

“So that suggests we definitely need to invest in a hospital that has some capacity for growth, which is steep.

“I think we need to be future proofing this hospital.”

He said The Hills’ first public hospital would be a milestone.

“The Hills is being well sorted by private hospitals but to have a public hospital in the area … is a sign of coming of age,’’ he said.

RIVERSTONE’S THE PLACE

By Sue Lawrence

Riverstone Chamber of Commerce

For decades the Riverstone Schofields Chamber of Commerce has called out the state and local government for ignoring Riverstone but for once we feel it delivers the perfect opportunity.

While the Riverstone state Liberal MP Kevin Conolly is coy about naming the site for the new public hospital, the chamber sees Riverstone as the perfect opportunity to deliver the best health care solution to the northwest.

Built around the meatworks in 1878, Riverstone was a thriving community until the meatworks closed in 1994.

Riverstone has plenty of potential to accommodate a hospital, the chamber of commerce says.

More than 2000 people were employed there and there were additional jobs created to support the booming industry.

Since the meatworks closed, Riverstone had been slowly dying but recently the town has been spurred on by residential development.

Riverstone needs more though, it needs investment.

The government cannot continue to develop housing without roads, infrastructure and employment.

Annemarie Christie and NSW Opposition leader Michael Daley (centre) at the Rouse Hill Hospital announcement on January 21.

The former meatworks property is not occupied and there is ample space available close to two train stations. It would be a fantastic site for the hospital.

The area is a blank canvas with plenty of opportunity to design a purpose-built road system to support the hospital.

A hospital at Riverstone would deliver:

● Central location, reducing the need for residents to travel 19.1km to the nearest hospital.

● Public transport connections for both staff and patients with available land next to the train line.

● Employment.

● Cheaper land costs allowing for more to be spent on the facilities.

The Riverstone community has waited too long for investment, which we need to breath life back into area.

This is not just the perfect opportunity for Riverstone, it is the perfect opportunity for the whole area.