Gunnedah District Hospital staff are eagerly anticipating a new Clinical Sterile Supply Department (CSSD), with the upgrade starting on Monday.
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The work is part of a $2 million upgrade for the hospital which is funded by Hunter New England Health’s capital upgrade program.
The first stage of the upgrade began in June with the replacement of the roof of the administration and community health block.
This second stage of the upgrade will see the current CSSD extended and the processing area renovated to meet full compliance requirements. The operating theatre will also be extended to create more space.
The hospital’s Health Service manager, Melissa O’Brien, said the theatre staff were looking forward to the changes.
“We’re really excited that the work’s starting and we look forward to being able to provide great service to the community with a service department that meets the best standards,” she said.
“There’s been a lot of work in planning and I’d really like to recognise the work of the theatre staff and our maintenance stuff who’ve moved our equipment. There’s been a lot of physical work and a lot of planning so we can do this.”
Ms O’Brien said this stage of the work was expected to be completed in May 2017.
“It will be great when it’s opening,” she said.
“I’m really looking forward to it.
“We’re all really excited about the investment in our local hospital as well.”
The operating theatre was shut on Monday, with no surgery to take place until the renovation is completed.
“We do a lot of day surgery, particularly a lot of scopes, and we’re looking at some other alternatives to get those done at other sites that haven’t been confirmed yet,” Mr O’Brien said.
Member for Tamworth Kevin Anderson said this stage of the upgrade was valued at more than $1 million, and tenders for the new kitchen construction would be released shortly with the aim of starting construction in early 2017.
“The next stage of works will see the kitchen replaced and extended which will be a welcome upgrade for the hospital staff,” Mr Anderson said.
“These upgrades are well deserved as the community has worked hard to fundraise for improvements to the site over the years,” Mr Anderson said.
Last year, $200,000 in budget funding was allocated to planning and construction works on the Gunnedah upgrade, while the remainder of the funding will flow from this year on, with $1.5 million allocated for the project in the 2016/2017 financial year.
Gunnedah mayor Jamie Chaffey said he welcomed the efforts of Mr Anderson and would continue to work with him to “identify the needs and attract funding where possible to make sure that all of the needs of our community are met”.
“As far as I’m concerned, and the community is probably concerned, any investment in Gunnedah and our public health system it’s not only appreciated, but with the growth of our community over the past few years and the forecasted growth over the next five years, it’s a necessity,” Cr Chaffey said.
“We look forward to many positive outcomes for our community in the future.”