Tresillian Beds Off The Plan For New Cowra Hospital

Member for Cootamundra Steph Cooke has vowed to fight to have the two Tresillian beds initially promised for the new Cowra Hospital to be reinstated.

It comes after Health Infrastructure NSW confirmed the beds would be removed as part of the updated clinical services plan. Ms Cooke said she had called for an urgent meeting with the NSW Health Minister, calling for him to overturn the decision. “To say I am devastated by this outcome is an understatement,” she said.

“I am now seeking an urgent meeting with Health Minister Ryan Park to ask him to overturn what I firmly believe is quite plainly the wrong decision; one that has been made with no community consultation whatsoever, and no attempt at finding a compromise or alternative solution.”

“I have been told that the reason for the decision relates to construction together with ongoing operational costs. However, this fails to take into account the social cost of not going ahead with what would have been an extremely important service for families across the Central West.”

Health Infrastructure NSW confirmed it will still be spending the promised $110.2 million on the Cowra Hospital redevelopment. “The NSW Government is investing $110.2 million in the Cowra Hospital Redevelopment, which remains on track to deliver modern and high-quality health services closer to home,” a spokesperson said.

Health Infrastructure and Western NSW Local Health District (WNSWLHD) are working together to finalise plans for the redevelopment ahead of main works construction starting early next year.

“The Cowra Clinical Services Plan acknowledged the Tresillian proposal as a service partnership opportunity, rather than a core clinical service to be included within the redevelopment build,” the spokesperson said.

“The design finalisation and value management process has now concluded and as a result the proposed addition of two Tresillian residential parenting beds will not be part of the redevelopment.” New mothers and their babies in the region will continue to be supported by the existing Cowra Tresillian Day Service, and WNSWLHD will also explore partnership options with Tresillian that better meet the needs of the district.

There is no change to existing clinical services being delivered as part of the redevelopment, which will include:

• An emergency department
• A general medical and surgery inpatient ward, including spaces to provide palliative care
• A peri-operative service (a range of surgical procedures)
• A maternity unit with a dedicated nursery
• Ambulatory care (services for outpatients) and Hospital in the Home
• Oral health (dental clinic)
• Renal dialysis (dialysis treatment for outpatients)
• Oncology (chemotherapy treatments)
• Community and allied health
• Mental Health, Drug and Alcohol services
• A medical imaging department including a new CT scanner and ultrasound
• Staff accommodation.

“The project team appreciates the valuable time and input provided by staff and stakeholders into the design process for the redevelopment,” the spokesperson said.

Site establishment for the redevelopment is underway, with main works construction expected to start in January 2024.

The community will continue to be updated as works progress, with the new hospital expected to be operational in 2025.

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