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Overview

Hornsby Ku-ring-gai Health Service (HKHS), incorporating Hornsby Ku-ring-gai Hospital and six community health centres, has been providing quality health care since 1933, to a community stretching from the Hawkesbury River to Lindfield, east to St Ives and west to Pennant Hills, Cherrybrook and Epping.

The hospital, a teaching hospital of the University of Sydney, provides inpatient services including coronary and intensive care, orthopaedic, general medical, surgical, obstetric, mental health, paediatric and emergency services. Outpatient services include allied heath (physiotherapy, occupational therapy and social work) as well as community health, dental and podiatry clinics, child, adolescent and family health, drug and alcohol, health promotion and rehabilitation and aged care.

The local government areas of Hornsby and Ku-ring-gai have an ageing population and according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics and the NSW Adult Health Survey, have the oldest, happiest and healthiest population in NSW.

Interesting Statistics

Emergency department attendances	22,206
Hospital admissions	17,480
Average number of beds	256
Average length of stay	4.7 days
Births	920

Figures from the 2003-2004 financial year.

Future Directions

• The strengthening of the Paediatric Department will continue with construction of the new Emergency, Paediatric and Maternity building to begin this year.
• Volunteers play an important role in community health centres. Security at all centres is being upgraded and volunteers will attend a mandatory orientation program and on-going training. Community consultation about services will be next year's focus.
• Work is under way for the relocation of services in departments affected by the construction of the new Emergency, Maternity & Paediatrics building due for completion in mid 2006.
• A program of minor capital works to improve patient and staff amenities include the refurbished bathrooms of Lumby building wards and the upgrade of the air-conditioning in operating theatres.