The $250 million redevelopment of Griffith Base Hospital is underway. Photo: Supplied.
With regional health set to be high on the political agenda in the coming month, the Griffith community has been given a sneak peek at the Griffith Base Hospital redevelopment plans.
A fly-through animation video was released last week taking viewers on a journey through the new three-storey Clinical Services Building at the heart of the $250 million project.
Minister for Regional and Mental Health Bronnie Taylor said it was exciting to get a feel for the new facilities.
“Any new hospital is great and it’s terrific to work in a really good environment and have these state of the art facilities in the region,” she said.
The Griffith Base Hospital redevelopment is part of the NSW Government’s $10.8 billion investment in health infrastructure over four years.
The building includes a revamped emergency department, more beds for aged care and rehabilitation, operating theatres, mental health spaces, maternity and a range of specialist facilities.
Ms Taylor said she’s been getting positive feedback from locals.
“I loved talking to the clinicians on the ground and hearing from them how much they’re looking forward to the new building,” she said.
Mental health will be one area of focus for the new hospital which includes, four beds to support patients experiencing an acute mental episode.
“That short stay unit for mental health admissions will be a great thing for the area and it’s something that people have been wanting,” she said.
“We know that as much community care and interventions we can provide at that level really benefits people in mental health.”
Bronnie Taylor said she has “hit the ground running” in the newly created role of Regional Health Minister. Photo: Supplied.
Ms Taylor also pointed toward the upcoming influx of more than 160 newly graduated registered nurses to the region.
“We have a really strong pipeline of new graduate nurses coming through,” she said
“But what we have to do is make sure that we retain our experienced nurses so that they can teach those nurses.”
Ms Taylor is a nurse herself and said having experienced mentors on hand was vital in her first year on the job.
“It made such a difference to have those clinical nurse educators available and ready to help and take you through procedures,” she explained.
“That then gave you the confidence and the ability to be an independent practitioner.”
The project comes amid a scathing NSW parliamentary inquiry report into health outcomes in rural, regional and remote communities.
Ms Taylor said she welcomed the report’s recommendations and had “hit the ground running” since taking on the newly created role of Regional Health Minister.
“The whole thing that drove me to put my hand up for parliament was that I wanted to make better health services and I wanted for people on the ground and health to have a voice,” she said.
“Now I’m so lucky that I’ve got this job and that I can make serious and meaningful change.”
Construction on the hospital redevelopment is set for 2025 completion before services are transferred over from the current hospital and the new facility is operational.
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