New signs are going up at Bulli Hospital this week to properly reflect the level of emergency service provided in time for the busy Christmas holiday period.
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The Illawarra Shoalhaven Local Health District said yesterday work had begun on the transition to an Emergency Primary Health Care Centre at the hospital.
Signage outlining the level of emergency care provided at the facility will be put up over the next few days.
The service provided will remain at the existing level but be available between 7am and 10pm daily.
The new hours will begin ahead of the Christmas school holiday period.
Health district board chairman Denis King said yesterday that when people arrived at Bulli they would know the hospital specialised in "lower acuity" emergency presentations while more serious cases requiring a higher level of care should be directed to Wollongong.
"This means Bulli Hospital will have a clearly defined role in the provision of emergency primary care services across the district.
"That is, it specialises in less serious ailments and injury," Professor King said.
"This not only gives the community reassurance about the type of service provided at Bulli - and when - but it will also strengthen capability at Wollongong and reduce waiting times for those who present to hospital with less serious conditions."
He said the signage needs to be changed before the holiday period to ensure awareness of the hospital's emergency capacity.