01 December 2006

Minister opens Surgery Admission Centre at Gosford

The new Surgical Admissions Centre at Gosford Hospital is now open for business NSW Minister for Health John Hatzistergos announced today.

The Minister officially opened the Centre today with Member for Peats Marie Andrews and Minister for the Central Coast Grant McBride.

Mr Hatzistergos said the $4.88 million Surgical Admissions Centre set a new direction for healthcare on the Central Coast.

"In just 15 months the Iemma Government has seen the Surgical Admission Centre completed on schedule and on budget," he said.

"This is part of the $122.3 million redevelopment of Gosford Hospital which also includes a new children's ward and emergency department."

Mr Hatzistergos said the Surgical Admissions Centre is a purpose built facility that will streamline services for patients undergoing scheduled surgery.

The Surgical Admissions Centre which started taking patient last week incorporates:

• an endoscopy unit (with a new and additional endoscopy procedure room)
• a urology clinic
• a 23 hour ward designed to reduce the reliance on hospital beds for patients as they recover from their surgery or procedure, and
• new state of the art sterilising equipment.

"The 30 bed Centre provides an integrated booking unit for admissions, a designated discharge lounge, improved proximity of doctors and patients to theatres, improved teaching facilities and improved staff amenities," Mr Hatzistergos said.

Member for Peats Marie Andrews said the Surgical Admissions Centre would ease the journey for patients needing day surgery.

"By locating all these units involved in surgical care together, adjacent to the operating theatres, the time and distance to transfer patients has been greatly reduced," she said.

Minister for the Central Coast Grant McBride welcomed the specialist Centre as a big boost for the Central Coast community.

"This new facility means reduced waiting times and faster care for patients and allows health services to keep pace with the rapid Central Coast population growth," he said.

For a range of health information, go online to www.health.nsw.gov.au