Wollongong Hospital's $5.5 million expansion would significantly ease the strain on its overburdened emergency department despite an increase of just seven beds, Premier Kristina Keneally said yesterday.Visiting the hospital to announce the official start of construction, Ms Keneally said the growth from 28 to 35 beds, coupled with a new emergency paediatric unit and a four-bed psychiatric care centre, would free up space for those needing urgent treatment."This department serves the entire region and ... is one of the busiest emergency departments in the state," Ms Keneally said, on her first visit to the region since becoming premier.
Wollongong Hospital fails to perform"The expansion will benefit not just Wollongong but the entire Illawarra."The region's director of emergency Dr Thomas Carrigan, who had previously called for a minimum 10-bed increase, said the expansion would improve treatment for the 50,000 people who presented to emergency each year."Patients will get a better service with less ambulance waits," Dr Carrigan said.Staff were negotiating with health authorities to ensure enough nursing positions were funded to staff the extra emergency beds, he said.The Mercury understands additional mental health positions will also be created to staff the new psychiatric service.Construction is expected to be complete by the end of June.Meantime, Ms Keneally rejected suggestions by NSW Nationals leader Andrew Stoner that the State Government's "piecemeal" approach to upgrading the notorious Princes Hwy had put motorists at risk.Ms Keneally said the Government had conducted a comprehensive safety audit of the highway from Sydney to the Victorian border, the recommendations of which were being implemented.But Ms Keneally would not comment on a demand by Shoalhaven City Council Deputy Mayor Gareth Ward that the Government commit to a start date for the Gerringong to Bomaderry road upgrade, indicating she would "take that up with the roads minister".
