Expectant mothers in Western Sydney Local Health District (WSLHD) will be able to birth their babies closer to home, following $90 million in additional funding from the NSW Government for the new Rouse Hill Hospital.
The funding boost will ensure comprehensive birthing services are delivered as part of the new Rouse Hill Hospital in WSLHD including birthing rooms, a maternity inpatient unit and additional staffing areas.
Pregnant mother of one, Sirjana, from Schofields was pleased to hear there will be a new birthing and maternity service closer to her home.
I had my son at Blacktown Hospital and I loved it because the nurses and facilities are fantastic but I would definitely appreciate a quicker drive to Rouse Hill Hospital’s birthing suite while in labour!”
“It will be much easier for appointments to get to Rouse Hill Hospital from Schofields particularly when I’m tired during pregnancy,” she said.
The boost of services will be in addition to the pre and post-natal maternity services already planned.
This follows the recent Federal Government’s $120 million commitment towards birthing services to ensure the hospital meets the needs of the community into the future.
NSW Health Minister Ryan Park said this further investment from the NSW Government brings to the total contribution to the new hospital to $910 million.
A comprehensive range of much needed health services, closer to home, for a growing community – that’s what we’re working to provide.”
The final scope for the Rouse Hill Hospital Development will be determined through the planning process but will include:
- An emergency department and primary access clinic;
- Inpatient beds and day surgery services;
- Short stay medical assessment services;
- Pathology, pharmacy, and medical imaging services;
- Outpatient and ambulatory care services including paediatrics and renal dialysis;
- Virtual care and hospital in the home services; and
- Prehabilitation, rehabilitation and lifestyle medicine.
The new hospital will be future-proofed by including expansion zones, to ensure capacity for additional health services in the future.
Planning and design for the additional maternity services will get underway immediately and delivery timeframes will be determined following the design process and award of a construction contract.
Extensive consultation with the community, consumers, staff and stakeholders is being carried out to help inform planning.
The new Rouse Hill Hospital will join a network of maternity and neonatal services provided by WSLHD through Westmead, Blacktown and Auburn hospitals, meeting the needs of the western Sydney community, offering birthing services to over 10,000 western Sydney women, their babies and families each year.
For information about the new Rouse Hill Hospital, including the stakeholder and community engagement summary visit: www.rousehillhospital.health.nsw.gov.au