Media Release: NSW Minister for Health

29 November 2007

Royal North Shore Hospital Redevelopment

NSW Minister for Health, Reba Meagher, today announced further progress on the $702 million redevelopment of Royal North Shore Hospital.

Ms Meagher told Parliament that the Royal North Shore Hospital redevelopment - the biggest health capital works project in the history of NSW - will include a completely new main hospital building.

Ms Meagher said detailed bids had been received from Plenary Health, InfraShore Partnership and Pinnacle Health Care.

"While tender evaluation has just commenced, NSW Health is pleased to note that all three bids include a complete redevelopment with new buildings," Ms Meagher said.

"The old Brown Building - as it is known - will be demolished.

"Each of the bids allows appropriate capacity for expansion to ensure what is built is able to meet the expansion needs of the health service in both the medium and long term.

On completion, the redeveloped Royal North Shore Hospital will offer a new acute services facility, a Community Health Centre and refurbishment to some existing buildings, providing:

• 462 acute beds to complement the 124 beds provided within the already completed Douglas Building;
• 40 acute mental health beds;
• Additional chemotherapy and renal dialysis chairs;
• Enhanced diagnostic services and ambulatory care services and;
• A total of 29 procedure and operating rooms.

Ms Meagher said tender evaluation is expected to be completed by the end of April next year.

This will be followed by a short period of negotiation with the preferred proponent, with an announcement on the successful bidder expected in mid-2008.

"In the meantime, construction is well underway with Stages one and two of the Education and Research facility. The building shell is now completed and the internal fit-out is underway.

"This construction is expected to be completed in the second half of 2008 and builds upon the completion of the Douglas Building in 2003.

"The new hospital will provide a total of 626 beds - including 46 critical care beds and 40 mental health beds - as part of a state-of-the-art facility which will provide for more convenient and better integrated patient care across all disciplines."

Ms Meagher also announced that approval had been given for the compulsory acquisition of the final seven properties for the new hospital at Frenchs Forest which will cost over $400 million and will deliver over 400 beds.

"The NSW Government is getting on with the job of delivering high quality health services to those who live on Sydney's northern beaches and I look forward to making further announcements on the development of this major hospital in the near future," she said.