01 December 2006

Premier opens new Children's Ward at Gosford

The new $8.7 million Children's Ward at Gosford Hospital was officially opened today by the NSW Premier Morris Iemma.

Joining the Premier was the NSW Minister for Health John Hatzistergos, the Member for Peats Marie Andrews and the Minister for the Central Coast Grant McBride.

Premier Iemma said the state-of-the-art Children's Ward was part of a new direction in healthcare for the Central Coast - and part of more than $122 million committed by the State Government for the ongoing redevelopment of Gosford Hospital.

"I'm proud to say that this 38-bed ward was completed on budget and on schedule," he said.

"The Ward began taking patients two weeks ago, and I understand feedback from patients, families, visitors and hospital staff has been very positive.

"Having children in hospital is difficult for any family, and this new Ward is designed to make their stay as comfortable as possible while ensuring they receive the very best care."

With more than 3,500 children admitted each year, Gosford Hospital has the largest and busiest paediatric unit in the State outside of the paediatric tertiary hospitals in the Hunter and Sydney.

The new Children's Ward features:

• a treatment room with murals to distract children undergoing procedures
• improved bed facilities including in-wall beds for parents
• a parents room and lounge
• adolescent lounge
• upgraded security system
• improved monitoring facilities
• negative pressure rooms for handling isolation cases
• family consultation rooms
• two nursing stations, and
• doctors rooms and offices for social workers.

The new Ward, together with the recently opened Paediatric Ambulatory Care Unit at Wyong Hospital, provides a networked paediatric service for children on the Central Coast.

Member for Peats Marie Andrews said that in just 15 months the Iemma Government has delivered modern facilities and new health services for the Central Coast community.

"This Government is working hard to keep pace with the growing population of the Central Coast, and deliver specialty services where needed," Ms Andrews said.

"This new facility is a perfect example of that, and I congratulate everyone involved for bringing this level of service and special care to our young people."

Minister for the Central Coast Grant McBride paid tribute to the broader community for their support of Gosford Hospital, the new Ward and the Children's Play Therapy room.

"I particularly want to thank the staff at Radio 2GO for their annual 'Give Me Five For Kids' community fundraising drive," he said.

"This appeal helped secure medical and therapeutic equipment for the Children's Ward as well as the ward's very own fish tank."

Gosford Hospital Children's Ward serves the whole of the Central Coast region for children up to16 years of age.

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