Emergency department plan with council
Tenders for construction of the proposed $2.5 million upgrade of Singleton Hospital’s emergency department could be called early next year if plans are approved by Singleton Council.
A development application for the expanded emergency department has been lodged with the council.
Singleton Health Service manager Wendy Mason-Jones said lodging the plans was the next step in the project.
“We hope they can be approved as soon as possible,” Ms Mason-Jones said.
“Once the plans are approved, we can move forward on the project. We hope to be able to call for tenders early next year and start construction soon after.”
The new emergency department will be built in stages and will include a refurbishment of some existing areas as well as a new extension, to be built foward and to the side of the existing emergency department.
“This is a major investment in health services for Singleton and will increase the number of beds in our emergency department from three to seven,” Ms Mason-Jones said.
It will include a new nurse triage area, resuscitation bay, acute treatment bay, treatment room and consult rooms, a decontamination area and a room for mental health assessments.
There will be an upgraded waiting area and reception area, a paediatric play area and new public toilets.
The ambulance bay area will be reconfigured and additional disabled parking and a designated drop-off zone incorporated at the main entrance.
Funding has been provided by the NSW Government in line with recommendations to help improve the comfort and care of women who may be experiencing problems in early pregnancy.
“Clearly, the improvements we will be making will not only benefit women facing pregnancy problems but everyone who needs to access the Emergency Department and waiting area,”
Ms Mason-Jones said.
The extension is modern and low-key in design, and is intended to be sympathetic to the adjacent Dangar wing but not to compete with or replicate the historic building.
Contact: Sharna McCarthy
Phone: 4921 4801