Tamworth hospital upgrade enters final stage

Executive director of regional and rural health services Susan Heyman said the refurbishment of the Bruderlin building would signal the completion of the project.

“Works to be completed in the Bruderlin building refurbishment include finishing the renal dialysis, ambulatory care and nuclear medicine facilities,” Ms Heyman said.

“The Bruderlin building will accommodate a range of ambulatory services such as Hospital in the Home.”

Once refurbished, the building will also house nuclear medicine and specialist clinics, including antenatal, allied health, paediatrics, pre-admission and orthopaedic and plaster clinics.

“The work on the Bruderlin building will include refurbishment of two inpatient wards and space to house the medical records department,” she said.

“The project is on track for construction to be completed in the last quarter 2016.

“Operational matters, such as the transfer of services to their new locations, will occur in an organised manner following that time.”

Last week, a new $3 million oral health care centre was officially opened at the hospital.

Stage one of the redevelopment delivered the North West Cancer Centre, as well as patient and carer accommodation.

Stage two saw the acute services building, new car parking, new helipad and expanded dental services established.

Ms Heyman said the project remained on budget.

Tamworth MP Kevin Anderson said the $5.798 million announced in the NSW budget was “the last tranche of money” for the project.

The most recent figures from the Bureau of Health Information showed there were 1626 people waiting for elective surgery in Tamworth as of March 31.

This figure was an increase of 23 per cent from the same time in 2015.

Ms Heyman said the redevelopment project “has provided future capacity for operating theatres, day surgery and high-volume, short-stay medical requirements”.