Bed numbers

Last updated 9 October 2008

How many beds will there be in the new hospital? Won't we need a lot of extra beds to cope with our ageing population?

The new hospital will not need a significant number of extra beds because of the way that health care is delivered is undergoing a fundamental change, with less reliance on inpatient services. Based on future Department of Health planning projections, the current figure of 626 beds is expected to be sufficient to meet our future health care needs.

Further staff consultation is scheduled for October/November 2008 and will provide hundreds of clinical staff with the opportunity to review the schematic designs for their departments. If it is determined that bed numbers need to be reviewed, the flexible design of the new hospital will allow us to respond to changing healthcare needs and demand for inpatient beds.