The NSW Parliamentary Secretary for Regional Health, Melinda Pavey MLC, visited the Wellington Health Service yesterday as part of a progress check on the new emergency department, scheduled to be completed by December.
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It was Ms Pavey’s first time visiting the Wellington Health Service where she discussed the upgrade with Wellington Health Service Manager Narelle Ford.
“It’s a big thing for Wellington and it’s a new age for regional health,” she said.
“A lot of commitment is being focused on health in rural and regional areas.”
The new emergency department will be located where the old maternity ward was, making it more central to the hospital and preventing the isolation of nurses at the current emergency department.
The project is part of $1.8 million in capital funding over the next three years under the NSW government’s rural minor works initiative.
Twenty thousand dollars has also been spent by the Hospital Auxiliary on hospital beds.
“It’s important that we get people like Melinda out into the central west to each see first hand what’s happening in the hospital,” Mr Gee said.
“A visit like this is invaluable because that’s how we get change.”
Ms Pavey and Mr Gee also announced that construction on the Gulgong Multi-Purpose Service (MPS) has commenced.
The much anticipated announcement coincided with the official opening of the new Gulgong HealthOne.
“I am delighted to announce the approval of the Development Application from the Joint Regional Planning Panel to build a new Multi Purpose Service (MPS) which will be co-located with this wonderful HealthOne facility.
“A contract for demolition has been awarded to Kingston Building (Australia) Pty Ltd and the contractor has already begun work on the site,” Mrs Pavey said.
“The NSW government has committed $7 million to this important project, which will see a variety of positive health outcomes for the community.”
Mr Gee said construction work is expected to get underway in late August following the announcement of the successful contractors and the completion of demolition works.
“These are significant milestones for this important project and the development of the MPS will allow for better integration of services for the local community while also providing capacity for high care residential aged care services,” Mr Gee said.
