Frequently Asked Questions

Updated FEBRUARY 2024

 

The NSW Government has announced $260 million to build a sustainable, modern and purpose-built hospital to support the needs of the entire Eurobodalla Shire from Narooma to Batemans Bay. It will deliver high quality, contemporary and accessible care close to home. Once completed the new Eurobodalla Regional Hospital will deliver:
  • An emergency department
  • Eight bed Intensive Care / Close Observation Unit
  • Increased capacity for chemotherapy
  • Surgical and operating theatres
  • Expanded medical imaging, including MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging)
  • Ambulatory care for community outpatient services
  • Paediatric and maternity services - including inpatient beds
  • Mental Health beds for short term admissions, and
  • Enhanced education and training facilities.
Yes. The new hospital will be a regional hospital at the heart of the Eurobodalla Local Government Area.

The Eurobodalla Regional Hospital will be established as a Level 4 health facility.

New services like paediatrics, intensive care, and an MRI will be included in the new hospital, allowing us to provide a higher level of care for our community. 

The new hospital is being designed to address the evolving healthcare requirements of the growing local population, keeping future demand at the forefront. The hospital will elevate healthcare in the Eurobodalla, offering an enhanced level of service beyond the current capabilities of the Moruya and Batemans Bay hospitals.

The development is being supported by a workforce plan, focusing on training, recruitment, and retention strategies to meet the anticipated growth of Eurobodalla Regional Hospital. The new hospital will require time to transition and develop the workforce to align with the new contemporary models of care, the new facility, technology, and ways of working.

Expanding healthcare services to higher levels means more people in the community can access specialised care locally, reducing the need for travel.

New services like paediatrics, intensive care, and an MRI that will be provided at the Eurobodalla Regional Hospital strengthen our local healthcare system, allowing us to provide more advanced care for families, the elderly, and everyone in our community.

This will lead to fewer newborns, infants, and children seeking care elsewhere, more mothers giving birth locally, increased capacity for complex procedures on-site, and improved availability of specialist outpatient services in the Eurobodalla.

The new hospital will be larger than both Moruya and Batemans Bay hospitals combined and deliver an increase in bed numbers. Contemporary health service design enables flexible use of beds in all clinical areas, as demand requires. This means that wards can be reconfigured if a department needs more beds at any given time.

The new maternity department at the Eurobodalla Regional Hospital will provide a modern, purpose-built and culturally safe environment to ensure women and families receive a high standard of individualised care for this important part of their parenting journey. All birthing suites will have a bath and will be connected to outdoor spaces on Country with their own private courtyard, providing women with more choice during labour. The maternity department features all single rooms, a dedicated nursery, feeding preparation areas and a family lounge.

Patients in SNWLHD who may have cancer and who require radiotherapy treatment, can access high-quality, appropriately staffed radiotherapy services at either Canberra or Nowra. Both centres provide existing accommodation facilities for patients who attend from SNSWLHD.
 
In August 2020, SNSWLHD undertook a comprehensive process to determine the safety and viability of establishing radiation therapy services on the South Coast (Bega/Moruya). Public and public-private partnership service models were considered. The process found there was not a sufficient population base in the area to support a viable, high quality public radiation service. Potential partnerships with private providers also lacked evidence of affordability, sustainability and quality.
 
SNSWLHD continually monitors the demand for all health services, including radiotherapy services, and aligns future service delivery with best practice guidelines, safety, sustainability and service demand in mind. The new Eurobodalla Regional Hospital Master Plan includes space for the expansion or inclusion of future compatible services.
 
In December 2020, the NSW Government announced the preferred location for the new Eurobodalla Regional Hospital on the Princes Highway in Moruya.

The site for the new Eurobodalla Regional Hospital was acquired under the Land Acquisition (Just Terms Compensation) Act 1991. 

Site establishment and construction will commence in 2024.
The new hospital site is located in the geographical centre of the Eurobodalla Shire and supports the current and projected population growth of the shire.

The hospital site in Moruya was selected in consultation with community and consumers, Aboriginal representatives, Transport for NSW, Southern NSW LHD, Health Infrastructure, Visiting Medical Officers and the Eurobodalla Shire Council.

The site meets a range of other important selection criteria including:
o            flood and bushfire exclusion zones,
o            capacity for future expansion,
o            transport links, and
o            access to and from key infrastructure such as Moruya Airport and the planned Moruya Bypass.
 
The campus master plan for the new Eurobodalla Regional Hospital Development has been developed in consultation with local and state government agencies, clinicians, operational staff and the community. The key purpose of master planning is to develop a framework for how key clinical connections and requirements can be supported with different types of infrastructure, and how this infrastructure can be located and connected to existing and new health networks, as well as supporting infrastructure such as transport and utilities. It addresses how people will get to and from the hospital and how the hospital works as a place. The master plan also considers how the hospital will expand to continue to provide high quality health services well into the future.
The master plan guides the final hospital design, including the location of infrastructure to support clinical services such as the emergency department, operating theatres and medical imaging, as well as access requirements to the new hospital.
Helipad
  • The new hospital includes a helipad to transport patients requiring specialist care to hospitals in Sydney and Canberra. A number of locations for the helipad were investigated as part of the Master Planning process, with an area close to the Emergency Department identified as the most suitable. This considered the site’s topography, flood zone, asset protection zones (bushfire), biodiversity zones and cultural heritage areas as well as aviation requirements to ensure safe take-off and landing.
Access
  • The hospital site entrance for all public and hospital vehicles, including ambulances will be via the Princes Highway.
Separated internal roads for ambulance and ED
  • Within the site, there will be separate access to the Emergency Department (ED) to ensure patients requiring emergency care can enter as quickly as possible without having to use the main hospital entrance.
Secondary access road for emergency vehicles if Princes Highway is blocked
  • There will be a secondary access road for emergency vehicles off Caswell Street. This access is planned to be used in the event the Princes Highway is blocked and emergency vehicles are unable to access the hospital main entry (for example a traffic incident). It will not be used for general public or staff access.
Construction access to support enabling works
  • During the hospital construction, and before the new roundabout off the Princes Highway is completed, some preliminary site access routes will be required to support enabling works on site. Planning is under way and residents in the local area will be consulted and informed prior to work commencing.

Southern NSW Local Health District is investigating options with local transport providers to increase support for people to get to and from Eurobodalla Health Services.

SNSWLHD currently partner with a range of organisations such as NSW Ambulance, Patient Transport Services, Eurobodalla Shire Council, and private transport operators to support the community with transport services to health facilities/hospitals.  

More information about transport services will be made available as the project progresses.

Health Infrastructure is working with Transport for NSW to integrate planning of the proposed Moruya bypass and new Eurobodalla Regional Hospital.

The hospital site entrance for all public and hospital vehicles, including ambulances will be via a new roundabout off the Princes Highway.

Throughout the planning and design process, the project team has consulted with 16 Project User Groups (PUGs). Participation from user groups is important during planning and the development of the design to ensure staff, patients and community representatives have input into the design. PUGs were established for each of the services and departments in the new build. Community consultation has occured at the various stages of design including concept design, schematic design, design development as well as the public exhibition of the Environmental Impact Statement.
The new Eurobodalla Regional Hospital Development is a pilot project for the NSW Government Architect’s Connecting with Country framework that will ensure Aboriginal consultation through the delivery and operation of the new hospital. Aboriginal consultation has already influenced the design of the new hospital; for example, the maternity unit will be located on the Ground Floor to accommodate the importance of birthing on Country.

Southern NSW Local Health District is developing a workforce strategy to attract, recruit and train healthcare professionals in preparation for the new hospital opening.  The new hospital will deliver a range of new and expanded healthcare services in one location which will attract a more specialised workforce to the Eurobodalla.

Recruiting doctors to rural and regional areas is a challenge for all states and territories.  The NSW Government has several initiatives to support development of the rural and regional workforce including scholarships, training programs, opportunities to gain additional skills and networks with metropolitan hospitals and universities.

Twelve new medical leads have recently joined our local team to provide leadership, strategic advice, support collegiality, and clinical excellence across SNSWLHD.

Alongside enhancing its current workforce and medical leadership, SNSWLHD is collaborating with university partners to reinforce both undergraduate and postgraduate education, research initiatives, and supportive professional networks. This strategic effort aims to attract specialised medical officers, nursing professionals, and allied health staff to further strengthen the healthcare team.

The new Eurobodalla Regional Hospital includes improved education and training amenities, featuring a simulation laboratory where staff can actively enhance their skills through hands-on learning experiences.
 

Most of the current workforce at Moruya and Batemans Bay Hospitals who currently live locally are expected to transition to the new hospital.

While additional staff will need to be recruited to support the expanded role of the new Eurobodalla Regional Hospital, these staff are likely to be accommodated throughout the Eurobodalla Shire, including Moruya, Batemans Bay, and Narooma.

Southern NSW Local Health District is reviewing a range of options to support accommodation for new and short-term Health workers.

More information about workforce accommodation will be made available as the project progresses.
 

Financial assistance is available for eligible SNSWLHD residents who need to access health services outside the Eurobodalla via the NSW Health Isolated Patients Travel and Accommodation Assistance Scheme (IPTAAS). IPTAAS was also recently expanded by the NSW Government to provide increased financial assistance for patients who need to travel long distances for specialist care.
 
Accommodation facilities are available in Canberra and Nowra for patients who attend from SNSWLHD.
 

Health Infrastructure will work closely with the construction contractor when appointed to accommodate the new Eurobodalla Regional Hospital construction workforce.

A range of initiatives will be considered including:

  • Using existing relationships with local subcontractors and supply chains, within both NSW and the ACT.
  • Maximising local workforce initiatives, including through local employment services network, government agencies, training services, local area training organisations including TAFE NSW, and locally based subcontractors
  • The use of subcontractors who have regional departments and local resources
  • Ensuring all subcontractors are aware of the limited available rented accommodation and expanding accommodation options to broader areas (i.e., within a 1-hour travel time from the site).

Access for all construction workers will be from the Princes Highway. Construction workers will be instructed to park on the hospital site and avoid parking on local roads.

We are committed to minimising disruption to the local community and all our neighbours during construction and maintaining the safety of all those who engage with our site is our number one priority.

We will continue to consult with the community as the project progresses to reduce the impact of construction on our neighbours.

The preferred site for the new hospital was announced in December 2020. The formal State Significant Development Application (SSDA) planning process for the new hospital has been lodged with the NSW Department of Planning and Environment . A detailed Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) was lodged in September 2023. Construction of a facility of this size generally takes between two and three years to complete following planning approval.

Health Infrastructure is committed to including sustainability principles in the design and construction of health projects and during the operation of the facility.

All Health Infrastructure projects are designed to comply with energy targets in-line with the NSW Government’s Resource Efficiency Policy, use design and innovation in new facilities to reduce waste, costs and Health’s carbon footprint. Solar panels, and the infrastructure to support them, are considered during planning for all NSW Health redevelopments.

The Coastal Network brings together healthcare services and diverse populations across the South Coast region and includes the Eurobodalla and Bega Valley municipalities and tourist hotspots such as Batemans Bay, Merimbula, and Eden. The Coastal Network has four hospitals that are supported by community health services at Batemans Bay, Narooma, Moruya, Bega, Pambula and Eden. It also has inpatient and outpatient services, including obstetrics, surgery, acute inpatient, mental health, paediatrics, oncology, renal and sub-acute rehabilitation. The Coastal Network supports workforce growth, development and collaboration between Batemans Bay and Eden.

The NSW Government has committed $20 million to deliver a modern, integrated, and convenient health service for the Batemans Bay community.

OVERVIEW

Batemans Bay Community Health is being designed to meet the healthcare needs of the local community and provide improved local access to a range of services such as:

  • Allied Health
  • Child, Youth and Family Services
  • Women’s Health/Sexual Health
  • Primary health care services such as community nursing, wound management and palliative care
  • Aboriginal HealthCommunity Mental Health and Drug & Alcohol

Batemans Bay Community Health will: 

  • Provide a sustainable, purpose-built community health service for the Batemans Bay and surrounding community.
  • Work together with the new Eurobodalla Regional Hospital, to ensure the community has access to the right health care in the right setting.
  • Use the latest technology and models of care to deliver patient-centred health services close to home.
Stay up to date with the latest news on Batemans Bay Community Health via the project website: www.hinfra.health.nsw.gov.au/projects/project-search/batemans-bay-healthcare-facility
 

Batemans Bay Hospital including the Emergency Department will continue to provide healthcare services for the community while the new Eurobodalla Regional Hospital and Batemans Bay Community Health are built.

Batemans Bay Hospital (and Moruya Hospital) will continue to provide healthcare services, including emergency services for the community, while we build the new community health service and Eurobodalla Regional Hospital.

Hospital services from Batemans Bay and Moruya Hospital services will transition to the new Eurobodalla Regional Hospital once the new hospital is ready to commence operations.  

The Eurobodalla Health Service is being enhanced to provide a higher level of care and keep people closer to home.

Urgent and Emergency Care will be provided from

  • Expanded Emergency Department at the new Eurobodalla Regional Hospital supported by an intensive care unit, diagnostic services, and theatres.
  • Urgent Care Centre at Batemans Bay for urgent treatment of minor injury and illness
  • NSW Ambulance - Eurobodalla Health Services is working in partnership with NSW Ambulance to support the healthcare needs of the entire Eurobodalla Shire community from Narooma to Batemans Bay in preparation for the transition of emergency services to the new Eurobodalla Regional Hospital.

 

The new Batemans Bay Community Health and the Medicare Urgent Care Clinic will continue to operate on the site of the Batemans Bay Hospital once hospital services transition to the new Eurobodalla Regional Hospital.

Plans for the remaining part of Batemans Bay Hospital site, which is owned by the NSW Government, are yet to be determined.

Visit the project website or contact the project team: HI-EurobodallaHospital@health.nsw.gov.au.