News
Operating Soon: The New Wollongong Private Hospital
Nov 12, 2015
Construction of the brand new Wollongong Private Hospital is nearing completion and is due to open for business on 18 January 2016.
With just over two months to go till opening, many patients including maternity patients are already booked in to the new hospital.
Hospital CEO David Crowe said the new and expanded facilities were attracting new specialists to the region ensuring top quality healthcare services were available and private patients did not have to travel outside the area for their hospital care.
“We are ensuring the necessary infrastructure and services are right here in Wollongong to better service the growing healthcare needs of the whole region,” Mr Crowe said.
“New services on offer at the hospital will include cancer care; cardiology and from July next year, cardiac surgery. Patients in the region, who previously travelled to Sydney for these services will now be able to access high quality doctors and services in Wollongong itself.”
“These new facilities in Wollongong not only ensure better facilities for the whole Illawarra community but also injects funds into the local economy, and creates jobs for the region. When fully opened Wollongong Private Hospital will employ over 500 staff.”
The 151 bed new private hospital, being built adjacent to the Wollongong Public Hospital, will occupy 4.5 floors of an 8-storey building. The $90 million medical precinct development is being built by AW Edwards on behalf of AA Crown Holdings. The development will also house 4000sqm of medical suites, diagnostic services, primary health care services and substantial car parking in a three level subterranean car park.
The private hospital will include all major services including an intensive care unit, eight operating theatres, a procedure room, a cardiac catheter laboratory and a day oncology unit. It will offer the full range of medical, surgical and maternity services.
It is expected to set a new benchmark in private hospital facilities for Wollongong with the hospital boasting a majority of single rooms with ensuites, state-of-the-art theatres and well-equipped critical care units. All rooms have a view to the ocean or the escarpment or both.
Ramsay Health Care currently operates the 100-bed Figtree Private Hospital but with the lease expiring in 2015, the Company had been investigating options for the future delivery of private hospital services in the region for some time.
The new private hospital in the centre of the Wollongong Medical Precinct will effectively replace the medical, surgical and maternity services at Figtree Private Hospital and allows for an increase in size by another 51 beds.
Figtree Private Hospital has provided an excellent service to the community over many years and it will continue to do so through the provision of rehabilitation services from early 2016. Figtree is continuing with its current services until the opening and transfer of services to Wollongong Private Hospital.
Features of the new development include:
- 151 overnight ward accommodation beds (majority private rooms with ensuites)
- 10 bed ICU
- 6 bed Coronary Care Unit
- 6 Cot Special Care Nursery
- 8 Chair Day oncology unit
- 8 Full Operating Theatres
- 1 Procedure Room
- 1 Cardiac catheter laboratory (convertible to hybrid theatre)
- 4 Delivery Suites