Hunter New England Health (HNEH) chief executive officer Dr Nigel Lyons said the Manilla money would allow construction to begin this coming financial year.

“I would expect construction to commence towards the end of the financial year,” Dr Lyons told The Leader

yesterday.

“Having the opportunity to have a HealthOne – which is the primary care facility – plus the multi-purpose centre is very much the way we want to go.”

The new multi-purpose service and HealthOne at Manilla would provide the community with better access to community and primary health services

The region’s biggest health funding allocation was $5.6 million towards Narrabri Hospital.

This funding would allow construction to begin on the new facility, which would include improved community health facilities.

“We’re sure the community will be delighted,” Dr Lyons said.

The hospital’s development is slated for next year, with HNEH recently lodging a development application with Narrabri Shire Council.

The money will allow construction to begin on the new site.

Two million dollars has been allocated towards further planning for Tamworth’s new $130 million hospital.

The funding “allows us to move to the next planning stage”, Dr Lyons said.

“We’ve completed the clinical services plan.

“That detailed planning does take time. Once we get into the detailed planning, it’s about how these services look.

“That planning work takes time and needs to be funded well and done

carefully.”

Grants of $2.818 million for Bingara Hospital and $3.662 million for Warialda Hospital would allow construction on both projects to proceed this year.

Key regional projects to receive funding include:

n $600,000 for the introduction of the Picture Archival Service at Tamworth to improve remote diagnostics services;

n $250,000 to expand the Tamworth Regional Retrieval Service. This will allow increased use of helicopters for patient transport;