Member for Goulburn and Minister for Local Government, the Hon. Wendy Tuckerman, opened the new Emergency Department (ED) at Crookwell Hospital today, marking the completion of the site’s $2.5 million refurbishment project.
Southern NSW Local Health District (SNSWLHD) Acting Chief Executive Fiona Renshaw said the new ED was designed with broad stakeholder consultation to ensure the best patient and staff experience.
“Patients, visitors and staff will benefit from a range of new and improved public and clinical facilities. The new ED is a welcoming space with its own reception desk and well-designed public and ambulance access,” Ms Renshaw said.
Minister Tuckerman officially opened the ED and congratulated the refurbishment team for overcoming the challenges of COVID-19 to deliver an improved health facility to the Crookwell community.
“Well done to the Crookwell Hospital staff team for persevering with the building works while managing the local COVID-19 response and the interruptions caused by lockdowns and supply chain issues,” Mrs Tuckerman said.
“I am particularly pleased to be here today to see the completion of the hospital upgrade as one of my 2019 election commitments to deliver a new ED and refurbished Wellness Centre for the Crookwell region.”
The new Emergency Department includes:
- new reception area and improved public and ambulance access
- larger waiting and medication rooms
- more public bathrooms
- increased acute treatment space capacity
- medical equipment upgrades, including ECG machines, defibrillator and a transport ventilator.
Crookwell Hospital staff have started transitioning to the newly completed ED and will be ready to welcome patients and visitors from next week.
The ED opening completes the Crookwell Hospital refurbishment project that includes an upgraded Wellness Centre, an improved records storage area, office fit outs and an upgraded communications room.
The Crookwell ED is part of the NSW Government’s record $10.8 billion investment in health infrastructure over four years to 2024-25, with nearly a third of the capital allocation in this financial year going towards regional and rural health facilities.
Since 2011, the government has delivered more than 170 hospitals and health facilities across NSW, with more than 110 currently underway – of those, more than 70 are in rural and regional areas.