Rouse Hill Hospital: NSW Government identify site at Town Centre
The NSW Government announces the site of the Rouse Hill Hospital after months of speculation and promises from the opposition.
- Labor promises $700m hospital for new hospital Rouse Hill
- Leaders have say on Rouse Hill Hospital location
- NSW Budget 2018: Hills Shire secures funds for Rouse Hill Hospital
The NSW Government has announced the site of the Rouse Hill Hospital after months of speculation and promises from the opposition.
Health Minister Brad Hazzard announced the hospital would be at 768 Windsor Rd, Rouse Hill — just metres from Rouse Hill Town Centre.
Mr Hazzard said the number of beds for the new facility was not yet determined and would be considered under community consultation with physicians.
“I would expect there to be a substantial amount of beds at the hospital,” he said.
“The services provided will also be determined during consultation with physicians.”
Mr Hazzard scoffed at the Labor Party’s promise for $700 million for the hospital, telling the Times the opposition “couldn’t deliver the northwest Metro and won’t be able to deliver this”.
A project pipeline report, developed by Health Infrastructure, revealed the estimated value of the new hospital build would be $300 million.
“The Rouse Hill Health Service stage one will establish a contemporary and technically advanced ambulatory care and diagnostic facility providing a rage of same day outpatient, diagnostic and ambulatory care services, networked to, and operationally integrated with, Blacktown and Westmead hospitals,” the Health Infrastructure report said.
“Digitally enabled, the new service will allow patient and population data capture and analysis in a defined geographical area improving knowledge of new health service delivery models and opportunity to maintain community health.”
Castle Hill state Liberal MP Ray Williams said the hospital, alongside an expanding Rouse Hill Regional Centre, would become a powerhouse employer for northwest Sydney.
“Rouse Hill has been one of the fastest growing regions in the country for the past 15 years and through the strong economic management of the government we have been able to deliver the critical infrastructure the growing community needs,” Mr Williams said.
“Whilst the hospital will provide essential health services for our community. It will be a huge employment driver of high qualified jobs, including doctors and nurses, there will be hundreds of jobs thanks to this investment.”
Baulkham Hills state Liberal MP David Elliott said the Labor Party failed to provide necessary infrastructure required when The Hills land release occurring in the 1990s.
“The Rouse Hills Hospital is, in many ways, a ‘catch up’ to what Hills residents need and deserve,” Mr Elliott told the Times.
“Along with the Norwest Rail, Northconnex, brand new schools and Bella Vista and North Kellyville and the update of Memorial Ave, Rouse Hill Hospital will provide first class facilities for our local community.
“I’m delighted that today we have seen the fulfilment of the Liberal Government’s plans for The Hills Shire and I look forward to see the construction take place now that the railway is nearing completion.”
Mr Elliott said the location of the hospital was critical, to “ensure that a large majority of Hills residents can access the services from public transport”.
“Residents will be able to walk to a Metro Station and travel to Rouse Hill to access the hospital — which will be directly across the road,” he said.
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The announcement comes after the government committed $75 million to secure the site during the 2018/19 NSW Budget in June and Labor’s promise of to more than double the funding for The Hills first public hospital to $700 million in January.
Riverstone state Labor candidate Dr Annemarie Christie and Opposition Leader Michael Daley said the hospital would specialise in women’s and children’s services.
Opposition health minister Walt Secord said the government was providing a “medical centre, not a hospital”.
“Labor’s $700 million investment in the North West Public Hospital will be the single largest investment in public health in Sydney’s north-west by a State or Federal Government,” Mr Secord said.
“Western Sydney hospitals are under enormous pressure and a new hospital in the North-West will take the pressure off Blacktown, Westmead and Mount Druitt hospitals.”
While Riverstone state Labor candidate Dr Annemarie Christie said Labor’s new hospital will give families in Sydney’s north-west more options to access affordable health care.
“As a local doctor, I see firsthand how the Liberal’s failure to deliver a hospital in the North-West has hurt local families,” she said.
“Labor’s commitment is about investing in local families in a growing community.”