Health Minister Brad Hazzard, joined by the Member for Oatley Mark Coure, Parliamentary Secretary for Families, Disability and Emergency Services Melanie Gibbons and Member for Miranda Eleni Petinos, today officially opened the unit and met some of its first newborns.

“This modern, state-of-the-art unit has been carefully designed with thoughtful  consideration of the needs of women during childbirth, featuring the very latest technology and  equipment for maternity care,” Mr Hazzard said.

“The NSW Government’s $11.5 million upgrade doubles the size of St George Hospital’s previous birth facilities so that more women in the local community can access world-class birth facilities and care close to home.”

The upgrade provides eight new birth rooms with deep baths for women in labour, two acute observation rooms and new neonatal monitoring technology.

Mr Coure said the unit is now very close to the operating theatres, two of which were refurbished as part of the upgrade.

“The NSW Government is delivering on its commitment to provide world-class healthcare to the people of NSW and this new birth unit is great news for families of the St George region and beyond,” Mr Coure said.

Ms Gibbons said the birth unit is also co-located to a separate new Pregnancy Assessment Unit, with its own waiting area and consulting room, providing extra support to the birth unit.

“This new birth unit will provide exceptional care to the some 2,300 women who give birth at the hospital each year and meet the growing needs of our local community.”

Ms Petinos said: “This means local mums and their newborns will receive more timely care and have the best possible experience at this very important stage of their lives.”

South Eastern Sydney Local Health District will also benefit from the NSW Government’s