The State Government is asking Hawkesbury residents to register to have their say on aspects of the $576 million redevelopment of Nepean Hospital.
With significant numbers of Hawkesbury residents transferring to Nepean from Hawkesbury Hospital each year, our needs are being sought by the government as part of the ongoing redevelopment plan.
Announced a year ago, the redevelopment will include a new six-level carpark with 627 spots, a 10-level clinical services tower with helipad on top, a bigger emergency department, 12 new operating theatres, 10 more birthing suites, a bigger medical imaging area, 15 more chemotherapy chairs for a total of 30 and more than 200 overnight beds.
The redevelopment, which has begun with the demolition of the old psychiatric unit, is expected to take five years. The carpark has been prioritised to be finished by early 2019 to enable other parts of the plan to go ahead in the old parking area.
As part of the change process, the government has set up a Nepean Redevelopment Consumer Committee with residents from Penrith, Blue Mountains and Hawkesbury to make sure the new facilities meet the needs of the three different communities.
Kurrajong’s Patti Shanks is the Hawkesbury’s representative. A former PE teacher, she sees the main issues for Hawkesbury patients going to Nepean Hospital as parking and transport – in other words, getting there.
Not everyone is able to drive for various reasons, and if you are too sick or in a wheelchair it can mean you can’t take what little public transport there is from the Hawkesbury to Kingswood. The Patient Transport Service has strict criteria as to who can use it, and taxis are very expensive. (For those concerned about transport to Nepean Hospital from the Hawkesbury, go to www.healthtransport.com.au/ and answer the questions on your particular situation to find out what is currently available to get you there.)
If you’ve ever been admitted to Nepean or know someone who has, and may have some ideas and feedback as to how the experience could be improved, register your interest now to be considered for a consumer focus group to be run in the Hawkesbury in a few months’ time.
To register, type ‘Nepean redevelopment consumer form’ into your internet browser and it will bring up the form in pdf format to be filled out. Enquiries about the form or the redevelopment work can be sent to HI-nepeanredevelopment@health.nsw.gov.au.
