More than 800 people have provided valuable feedback on the concept design for the $558 million redevelopment of the Albury Wodonga Regional Hospital, according to the latest stakeholder engagement summary released today.
Following the release of the concept design in August of this year, stakeholders, health staff and the community had their say on the latest designs via the project website, as well as at in-person and online information sessions.
The significant community response follows a series of information sessions and project briefings, held over a four-week period during which the community was able to view the designs and speak with project staff. These information sessions were attended by more than 370 community members, almost 400 Albury Wodonga Health staff, as well as stakeholders.
Feedback from the sessions highlighted support for the new designs, and the increase in healthcare services and contemporary facilities. There was also support for consolidating complex care on a single site and expanding mental health facilities.
There was strong interest in the additional parking to be delivered as part of the redevelopment, as well as new or improved transport links to the hospital. This work continues to progress as part of the planning process.
Additionally, there were more than 150 responses to the community survey, which showed interest in easy-to-follow wayfinding, sheltered drop off and pick up areas, improved lighting across campus, comfortable seating for visitors, access to gardens and green spaces to promote wellbeing for staff, patients and visitors and areas for large groups to gather.
Briefings were also held with a range of stakeholder and interest groups immediately following the concept design release. This included key clinician and senior medical staff council groups, the Albury Wodonga Health Board, Albury City and Wodonga councils, onsite stakeholders, local Aboriginal representatives, local health advocacy groups and NSW government agencies.
The Albury Wodonga Regional Hospital project includes a new seven-storey Clinical Services Building and a two-storey Northeast building, addressing the evolving needs of the border communities with cutting-edge medical technology and infrastructure.
The project will deliver a mix of new and refurbished facilities and is expected to include:
- More than 80 additional beds for medical and surgical care across three new inpatient units, with 60 per cent single rooms and the remainder double rooms.
- New and enhanced Intensive Care Unit (ICU)
- Enhanced maternity and birthing services, including a special care nursery
- A 32-bed Mental Health Inpatient Unit to replace and expand the existing Nolan House 24-bed service
- New surgical and operating theatres, including a hybrid theatre plus procedure room
- New Cardiac Catheter Lab
- New central sterile supply department adjacent to theatres
- Expanded ambulatory care, cardiac diagnostics and allied health therapies
- New hospital main entrance and public drop-off zone from Keene Street, Aboriginal Family Lounge, Multi-faith Centre and retail opportunities
- Additional car parking.
Numbers will be finalised as planning and design progresses.
The full stakeholder engagement summary for the release of the concept design for the Albury Wodonga Regional Hospital project can be viewed here: hinfra.health.nsw.gov.au/awrh
The responses provided will feed into the next stage of the project, schematic design, to further improve the hospital experience for visitors and patients.
The project team will continue to provide updates to staff, community and stakeholders as the project progresses.
Early works on the Northeast building are expected to commence in 2025.
Quotes attributable to NSW Health Minister Ryan Park:
"I am pleased so many members of the community and local health staff took the time to view the concept designs, talk to the project team, and are enthusiastic about the transformation of Albury Wodonga Regional Hospital.
"This exciting project will deliver more beds, more points of care, more parking spaces, and enhanced intensive care, maternity, birthing and mental health services.
"It will consolidate complex care onto one single site, which will improve safety for patients.
"Ongoing engagement with a broad range of stakeholders and the community is essential to the hospital planning, design and delivery process and will continue throughout the remainder of the project."
Quotes attributable to Victorian Health Minister Mary-Anne Thomas:
"We're delivering one of the most significant regional health infrastructure investments ever for border communities, alongside the NSW and Commonwealth governments - so it is fantastic to see more than 800 Albury Wodonga locals have had their say on the concept designs.
"This project will be critical to ensuring locals have the world-class health services they deserve - and will deliver safer and more efficient care by reducing duplication for the border communities.
"Once complete, the massive $558 million redevelopment will deliver a new state-of-the-art intensive care unit, maternity ward, neonatal care and paediatric services, more medical and surgical beds, new operating theatres and a new 32-bed mental health unit."
