Health Minister Jillian Skinner today unveiled the schematic design for the $30 million Broken Hill Health Service Redevelopment.

The $30 million project will include the upgrade of Broken Hill Hospital and construction of a new Community Health Centre.

“I am delighted to be in Broken Hill today to unveil the schematic design for the redevelopment, which will ensure the local community has access to first-class facilities,” Mrs Skinner said.

The Broken Hill Health Service Redevelopment will include a new integrated Community Health Centre including a five-chair dental health facility, child, family and community health services and new staff office accommodation. It will also include the reconfiguration of the hospital’s ambulatory care wing to expand cancer care services and consolidate waiting areas for patients.

Health Infrastructure is working in partnership with the Far West Local Health District and local user groups, including doctors, nurses, allied health and support staff, to finalise the layout and configuration of the new facilities.

The project team is set to lodge a development application with Broken Hill City Council for the new Community Health Centre, which will be located on Crystal Street.

While at Broken Hill Hospital, Mrs Skinner met midwives to discuss the Midwifery Group Practice model and visited the emergency department to discuss the ‘Did Not Wait’ program, which is having success in reducing the number of Aboriginal people who leave the emergency department without waiting for care.

Tenders for construction of the Community Health Centre will be issued following the completion of detailed design. Work is expected to commence on-site in mid-2017.

Mrs Skinner began the day by opening the Palliative Care NSW State Conference.