Proposed access changes to Merriwa Community Hospital

The main entrance of Merriwa Community Hospital will close this week to enable the next stage of Multi Purpose Service (MPS) redevelopments to commence.

This entrance will remain closed for 11 months while construction is underway.

Visitors, staff and patients presenting for care or admission will be required to enter the health service via the Emergency Department from Thursday 16 August.

Parking will still be accessible at the front of the health service, however, the main entrance of the hospital will be closed so that construction work can commence on Community Health and Medical Centre facilities, and the new entranceway to the MPS.

Merriwa Community Hospital Health Service Manager Cheryl Mead said the closure was ahead of schedule, and meant construction would remain on track for completion by July 2008.

“The closure is a deviation from the original building schedule, but allows us to remain on track for completion by July 2008,” Ms Mead said.

“Visitors, staff and patients will all be required to use the Emergency Department entrance, however, no services will be affected by the change,” she said.   

Visitors will still be required to sign-in at the health service and should continue to present to reception on arrival as is normal practice.

In addition to main entrance access changes, Community Health facilities will relocate to demountable buildings at the rear of the hospital on Sunday 2 September.

Access to Community Health will be via McRae Street.

“Directional signage will be in place for the duration of the relocation. We have spoken with our regular clients to inform them of the change and we anticipate the next phase of the redevelopment process will go very smoothly,” Ms Mead said.

“This is an exciting time for Merriwa. I would like to thank the community for their ongoing support of the new facility and for their understanding of the necessary changes,” she said.

Toward Merriwa MPS, a monthly community newsletter providing regular MPS updates is regularly available in prominent community locations, including the local newsagency, chemist, Upper Hunter Shire Council office, and Merriwa post office.

Contact: Nicole Fuller

Phone: (02) 6767 7136