Hundreds of people, including community members, health staff and volunteers, local Councils and stakeholders have provided valuable feedback on the design of the new $700 million Rouse Hill Hospital, with the latest stakeholder engagement summary released today.
The NSW Government is investing $700 million in the new Rouse Hill Hospital development, the first major public hospital built in western Sydney in more than 40 years, to meet the future healthcare needs of the growing north western Sydney community.
The community had their say on the latest design for the project throughout August and September 2024, with 350 people attending in-person information sessions across Schofields, Castle Hill, Rouse Hill, Blacktown and at Westmead, with a further 90 stakeholders briefed. Additionally, there were almost 600 responses from the community to an online survey.
Feedback is informing the next stage of design of the new hospital, with input received from a broad range of consumers, health staff, community members and stakeholders including Dharug traditional custodians, multicultural community representatives, interest groups and local organisations, local residents and businesses, local Councils and NSW Government agencies.
The feedback highlighted positive support for the delivery of a new hospital in Rouse Hill, with respondents interested in the hospital's design, clinical services to be delivered and future hospital functions, as well as the patient, visitor and community experience.
The community was also interested in parking and access to the new hospital including proximity to public transport. As part of the project a new multi-storey carpark will be delivered, with the site location providing easy access to the Sydney Metro.
The project team has prepared a report about the engagement and answers to key queries by community members and stakeholders. The full report can be found here: Rouse Hill Engagement Report Nov 2024
The project team is now preparing an Environmental Impact Statement as part of a State Significant Development Application, which is expected to be lodged and placed on public exhibition in 2025.
Ongoing consultation with a broad range of stakeholders and the community is essential to the hospital planning, design and delivery process and will continue throughout the project.
The final scope for the Rouse Hill Hospital Development will be determined through the planning process but is expected to include:
- An emergency department and primary access clinic
- Inpatient beds and day surgery services
- Short stay medical assessment services
- Pathology, pharmacy, and medical imaging services
- Outpatient and ambulatory care services including paediatrics, renal dialysis and antenatal and postnatal services
- Virtual care and hospital in the home services
- Prehabilitation, rehabilitation and lifestyle medicine
The new hospital will be future-proofed and built with expansion zones, to ensure capacity for additional health services in the future.
The full scope of health services will be confirmed when planning and design is finalised.
For information about the new Rouse Hill Hospital, including the stakeholder and community engagement summary visit: www.rousehillhospital.health.nsw.gov.au
Quotes attributable to Minister for Health Ryan Park:
"I am delighted to see the interest the community is taking in their new hospital. This valuable feedback will help shape the new health facility to ensure it meets the healthcare needs of Sydney's north west into the future.
"The new public hospital for Rouse Hill is a key priority for the Minns Labor Government and it's exciting to see the plans taking shape.
"The former Liberal National Government had a long history of undelivered commitments with this project dating back to 2015. The Minns Labor Government, myself and the Member for Riverstone Warren Kirby are getting on with the job of delivering this $700 million hospital for the community in North Western Sydney."
Quotes attributable to Peter Primrose, Labor Spokesperson for Kellyville:
"The new hospital will bring public healthcare closer to communities around Rouse Hill, Tallawong, Schofields, The Ponds, North Kellyville, Riverstone, Box Hill and Marsden Park."
Quotes attributable to Warren Kirby, Member for Riverstone:
"We want the new Rouse Hill Hospital to reflect the diverse community of Sydney's north west and consultation with the community and stakeholders will be key to this.
"The Rouse Hill Hospital was promised for many years under the former Government, yet no work was done to make those promises a reality. It's good to be part of a Government who is dedicated to supporting our growing community with the public health infrastructure we so desperately need."
