The new 14-storey Paediatric Services Building (PSB) at the $619 million Children's Hospital at Westmead (CHW) Stage 2 Redevelopment has reached its full height of nearly 70 metres.
As the centrepiece of the hospital's redevelopment project, the new 14-storey Paediatric Services Building (PSB) will provide new and expanded critical and acute healthcare services.
Minister for Health Ryan Park and Member for Parramatta Donna Davis will visit the site today for a traditional 'topping out' ceremony to mark the significant construction milestone.
The building will include:
- A new and expanded Neonatal Intensive Care Unit
- A new and expanded Paediatric Intensive Care Unit
- Cancer services including a new day oncology treatment centre and inpatients units
- New perioperative unit containing operating theatres, cardiac catheterisation labs and interventional laboratory
- Statewide service for burns, offering inpatient and outpatient facilities
- A new pharmacy and oncology pharmacy
- A new Surgical Short Stay Unit
Internal and external works for the new building are well underway, including installation of facade panels, designed to illustrate the movement and reflections of the local waterways and riverbanks adjacent to the hospital.
Around 300 workers are currently working at the site each day, and this is expected to increase to around 500 a day at the peak of construction and fit out. The building is due to be completed in 2025.
The redevelopment also includes a new multi-storey car park, a revitalised 'KidsPark' forecourt with new food and beverage options for staff, patients and their families, an Aboriginal Gathering Space, three new playgrounds to suit children of all ages and abilities, a pet park, and refurbishment of existing spaces within the hospital, including:
- Relocation of the Clinical Research Centre, Gait Analysis Laboratory and Pathology Collections into new fit-for-purpose spaces
- Expansion of pathology laboratories
- Pathway upgrades for improved pedestrian movement through the health precinct
The Stage 2 Redevelopment of The Children's Hospital at Westmead is being delivered by Health Infrastructure in partnership with the Sydney Children's Hospitals Network, with Roberts Co as the principal contractor.
The NSW Government is committed to delivering on the health infrastructure and technology for communities across NSW, in particular, focusing on the parts of the state that need it most.
It will invest $3.4 billion in 2024-25 to upgrade hospitals and health facilities across the State as part of the 2024-25 NSW Budget ensuring patients continue to receive high-quality care in their local community.
Of this, nearly $1 billion will be allocated towards rural and regional health capital works projects, and over half a billion towards Western Sydney hospitals in 2024-25 alone.
Key investments in the 2024-25 NSW budget include:
- a further $47.8 million in the upgraded Ryde Hospital to deliver expanded and upgraded health services for Ryde and surrounding communities, which will include a new emergency department, inpatient wards and cutting-edge imaging and diagnostic services;
- hundreds of millions of dollars in additional funding to deliver ongoing hospital redevelopments at Eurobodalla, Temora, Liverpool, Integrated Mental Health Complex at Westmead, Moree, Nepean, Cessnock and Shellharbour Hospitals
- $265 million for the upgrade of Port Macquarie Hospital to provide a greater range of clinical services, including emergency and maternity services for the communities of the Mid North Coast
- $250 million in a critical maintenance program at hospitals and health facilities across NSW.
The NSW Government is committed to continuing to build on our previous investments in important infrastructure projects for the State, including:
- Canterbury Hospital redevelopment;
- Fairfield Hospital redevelopment;
- Additional beds for Mount Druitt Hospital & Blacktown Hospital; and
- A brand new $700 million hospital to be built at Rouse Hill.
The delivery of the Children's Hospital at Westmead Redevelopment also builds on the NSW Government's commitment to delivering Brighter Beginnings for the children of New South Wales.
Part of the Government's $40 million Family Start Package in the 2024-25 NSW Budget will boost the public paediatric allied health workforce with an additional 32 staff, providing access to allied health services for 3,600 more children each year, of which the Children's Hospital at Westmead play a role.
Find out more information the redevelopment of The Children's Hospital at Westmead.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Health Ryan Park:
"The construction of the new hospital building and the significant investments to enhance existing health services will ensure The Children's Hospital at Westmead continues providing world-class facilities for children and their families from all over NSW, as well as clinicians and researchers.
"These new, cutting-edge healthcare facilities will set the standard nationally and globally for paediatric healthcare.
"One of my key priorities in Government has been to improve the first 2,000 days of a child's life. This project helps to achieve this goal through ensuring kids have high quality healthcare infrastructure".
"Once complete, the new 14-storey building will support children requiring acute and critical healthcare across multiple departments, combining cancer services, operating theatres, intensive care, pharmacy, and inpatient units in one place."
Quotes attributable to Donna Davis MP:
"The Children's Hospital at Westmead is a key driver of growth in this area, and its significant expansion will help bolster an environment for deeper collaboration and innovation through all aspects of health care delivery.
"The completion of the redevelopment will establish the Westmead Health Precinct as one of the largest health, research, education and training precincts in the world."
Quotes attributable to Cathryn Cox PSM, Chief Executive, Sydney Children's Hospitals Network:
"This significant investment in redeveloping The Children's Hospital at Westmead will provide our leading healthcare and research professionals with access to modern healthcare facilities, technology and equipment.
"The redevelopment is creating contemporary facilities to revolutionise frontline medicine while fostering improved healthcare outcomes for children across the country to live their healthiest lives."
