Concept designs showing the Albury Wodonga Regional Hospital’s clinical services building and arrival forecourt. Photos: NSW Health.
The NSW Government has released the first concept design images for the $558 million Albury Wodonga Regional Hospital project.
The project will consolidate complex care on the Albury Hospital campus site, improving patient safety, reducing service duplication, and eliminating the need for urgent travel between the Wodonga and Albury campuses.
The work aims to repurpose the Wodonga Hospital campus into a non-emergency care hub and support the region’s growing population by providing contemporary care models and better connectivity across the Albury Hospital site.
NSW Health Minister Ryan Park said the concept design release was an exciting step forward in delivering the new hospital.
“Albury Wodonga Regional Hospital will provide enhanced and expanded healthcare services in a contemporary health facility,” Mr Park said.
“The transformation of the Albury Hospital site will consolidate complex care on one campus, improving patient safety and ensuring community health outcomes.
“Importantly, it will provide our dedicated health staff with a modern and fit-for-purpose working environment, which will help attract more health professionals to the border communities of Albury and Wodonga to meet future demand.”
The Albury Hospital campus site plan.
The hospital project will use cutting-edge medical technology and infrastructure to address border communities’ needs.
It will include a new seven-storey clinical services building, designed for future expansion for new paediatrics inpatient units, more operating theatres, additional consulting rooms, and education and library spaces.
The upgrades will include a mix of new and refurbished facilities:
- More than 80 new beds for medical and surgical inpatients across three new inpatient units, with 60 per cent single rooms and the remainder in double rooms
- New and enhanced intensive care unit (ICU)
- Enhanced maternity and birthing services, including a special care nursery
- A 32-bed mental health inpatient unit to replace and expand the existing Nolan House 24-bed service
- New surgical and operating theatres, including a hybrid theatre plus procedure room
- New cardiac catheter lab
- New central sterile supply department adjacent to theatres
- Expanded ambulatory care, cardiac diagnostics and allied health therapies
- New hospital main entrance and public drop-off zone from Keene Street, Aboriginal Family Lounge, multi-faith centre and shops
- Additional at-grade and multi-storey car parking.
The clinical services building’s paediatric terrace. Photo: NSW Health.
The refurbishment of the ICU and theatres is set to enhance care for the emergency department, while the pathology and pharmacy facilities will be upgraded and a new mental health and alcohol and other drug unit included.
A new multi-storey carpark will increase parking capacity at the Albury site, and a new clinical services building will feature outdoor areas to support healing.
Once completed, the Wodonga Hospital campus will provide various non-emergency services, including day procedures, dialysis, rehabilitation, and allied health services.
The project’s planning and design followed consultation with key stakeholders including Albury Wodonga Health Service staff, Albury Council, Wodonga Council, NSW and Victoria government agencies, the local Aboriginal community, the Project Community Advisory Group, and the broader Albury Wodonga community.
Clinical services have been prioritised to meet the community’s immediate needs and ensure that works begin sooner. Patients requiring more urgent complex care will continue to be transferred using the nearby Albury Airport.
Mr Park said engaging with staff, clinicians, and the broader community was essential in planning and designing the new hospital.
“I encourage everyone to visit the project website and participate in upcoming information sessions to provide feedback and learn more about this exciting project,” he said.
Members of the public can view and provide feedback on the latest designs via an online survey and at in-person and online staff and community information sessions in Albury, Wodonga and the surrounding areas.
Feedback will inform the next design stage.
For more information, visit the Albury Wodonga Regional Hospital Project website.
Original Article published by Shri Gayathirie Rajen on Region Riverina.
