more beds, more services for new eurobodalla regional hospital

NSW Government media release December 2021


The masterplan for the new Eurobodalla Regional Hospital at Moruya have been revealed at a site visit by the Premier Dominic Perrottet.

“We’ve listened to the community, experts in health planning and our clinical and allied health staff. They want this new hospital to grow with the residents of the Eurobodalla and that’s what my government is delivering,” Mr Perrottet said.

“There’ll be MRI services, greater ED capacity, an ICU/Close Observation Unit and space for staff education and training in one of the largest greenfield hospital developments underway in NSW.”

Health Minister Brad Hazzard said the Eurobodalla Regional Hospital will be built to accommodate a Level 4 health facility.

“We will be delivering so much more than is currently in the district including a new MRI, an 8 bed intensive care unit and enhanced oncology services. It will be up to the Local Health District to recruit all of the specialist clinicians necessary to operate a Level 4 hospital and that’s what will be delivered,” Mr Hazzard said.

“It doesn’t matter whether you live in Narooma, Moruya or Bateman’s Bay you will have outstanding medical care as close to where you live as possible. Our nurses, doctors, allied health staff will be able to deliver care from a state-of-the-art hospital.”

“Once completed, the new hospital will provide more beds than are currently available in both Moruya and Batemans Bay hospitals combined.”

The NSW Government recently announced a $500 million boost to its investment in rural health services and infrastructure.

The new South Coast facility will feature the latest technology and models of care and improved Emergency Department capacity, specialist consultation rooms, an expansion of medical imaging including a second x-ray machine and MRI, as well as other amenities including space for staff education and training.

The formal State Significant Development Application (SSDA) planning process for the new hospital has commenced and consultation will continue to develop the application, including a detailed Environmental Impact Statement (EIS).

Local member for Bega Andrew Constance said the project would dramatically boost work opportunities in the region.

“This project will support hundreds of direct and indirect jobs here in the region during construction and many locals will be able to develop industry skills providing a boost to the local economy. Once it is built there’ll be additional jobs working at the hospital,” Mr Constance said.

Southern NSW Local Health District Chief Executive Margaret Bennett said the new hospital will strengthen the region’s network of healthcare services with future proofing plans for additional education, training and research facilities included in the masterplan.

“As we progress designs and plans for the project, we will continue to engage with staff and the community,” Ms Bennett said.

The master plan and early designs has been prepared in collaboration with clinicians, operational staff, local Aboriginal community representatives and community members.

The site acquisition process is proceeding, and early and enabling works are expected to start in 2022.

Construction of a facility of this size generally takes between two to three years to complete and is expected to open to patients in 2025.

The new Eurobodalla Regional Hospital will include:

• An emergency department
• an eight bed Intensive Care Unit (ICU) /Close Observation Unit (COU)
• increased capacity for chemotherapy treatments
• surgical and operating theatres
• expanded medical imaging, including MRI and additional X-ray
• Ambulatory care for community outpatient services
• Paediatric and maternity services - including inpatient beds
• Flexible mental health beds associated with the medical inpatient unit and
• enhanced education and training facilities.

A link to design images can be found at https://bit.ly/3F2Av9F

Click here to download the media release from Dominic Perrottet, Premier of NSW and Brad Hazard, Minister for Health and Medical Research.