The State Government has pledged to build an $83 million elective surgery unit at Wollongong Hospital which is expected to substantially cut waiting lists.Planning will start immediately, with the first $500,000 of funding contained in today's state budget along with details of a time frame for completion of the project.Wollongong MP Noreen Hay confirmed the initiative yesterday, saying the new facility was designed specifically for elective surgery and would significantly enhance the role, capacity and capability of the hospital.
Premier Keneally backs hospital extensionMs Hay said the project would include six new operating theatres, inpatient beds and new surgical outpatient clinics."It will mean greater access to surgery and will allow Wollongong Hospital to have dedicated theatres for the increasing number of emergency and trauma cases the hospital now sees," Ms Hay said.The commitment follows the Government's plan, revealed by the Mercury yesterday, to inject an extra $25 million from today's budget into upgrading Picton Rd.According to the latest figures available, waiting times for elective surgery at Wollongong Hospital have grown to an average of 72 days.However, it can take up to five months for orthopaedic surgery and a whopping 7? months for public patients wanting ear, nose and throat surgery.The proposed new surgical unit is also likely to have potential impacts on waiting times for elective surgery at Shellharbour and Bulli hospitals.NSW Health Minister Carmel Tebbutt said the multimillion-dollar facility would allow more complex surgery to take place at Wollongong, resulting in a greater ability to treat patients in the region."It will act as a magnet to attract doctors, nurses and allied health staff to the Illawarra and will reinforce Wollongong Hospital as a major teaching and referral hospital," Ms Tebbutt said.Treasurer Eric Roozendaal said: "This major health boost to the region will significantly expand total surgery capacity while complementing and improving the management of both emergency and elective surgery."
