Construction is officially underway on the $50 million Glen Innes Hospital Redevelopment, with local health workers and community members marking the milestone at a sod-turning ceremony this week.
The redevelopment is expected to deliver upgraded healthcare facilities for Glen Innes and surrounding communities, including a new acute services building with an expanded emergency department, medical imaging services, ambulance bays and a new main entrance.
Regional Health Minister Ryan Park said the project would improve access to modern healthcare closer to home for people across the Northern Tablelands.
“Ensuring rural and regional communities have access to the best healthcare is a key priority for the Minns Labor Government, and this $50 million investment in the Glen Innes Hospital Redevelopment will deliver modern health facilities to support our hardworking health staff and the local community,” Park said.
“In the coming months, the community will see construction ramp up as the acute services building starts to take shape.”
Importantly for local residents, hospital services will continue operating throughout construction.
“Importantly, all hospital services will continue to operate as normal during construction, so the community can be assured they will continue to receive the care they need when they need it,” Park said.
The project has been welcomed locally, with Labor spokesperson for Northern Tablelands Peter Primrose saying the redevelopment would strengthen healthcare services for the broader Glen Innes Severn region.
“The redevelopment of the Glen Innes Hospital ensures that communities in and around the Glen Innes Severn region have access to modern facilities that are better equipped for hardworking health workers to provide necessary health care to patients,” Primrose said.
He said the project would also provide economic benefits for the town through construction and local business involvement.
“It has been fantastic to see local trades and businesses being given the chance to play a key role in the Hospital’s redevelopment, supporting the local community, local economy, and workforce,” he said.
As part of the construction works, a temporary internal access road is being built on the eastern side of the hospital campus, with new ambulance access to follow in the next stage.
Access to the hospital via Taylor Street will remain unchanged during construction, while the Ferguson Street/Gwydir Highway entrance will be limited to ambulance and mortuary access, construction traffic and museum volunteers.
The hospital will remain a district hospital linked with Armidale and Tamworth hospitals for specialist services during and after construction.
The redevelopment is being delivered by Health Infrastructure in partnership with Hunter New England Local Health District and TCQ Construction, with completion expected in 2028.
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