It won't just be metropolitan hospitals well-prepared if COVID-19 hits hard, as regional hospital capability in NSW is being increased.
Two Central West facilities will have more beds available soon, NSW Health Minister Brad Hazzard revealed today.
The number of hospital beds in Mudgee and intensive care unit beds in Dubbo will more than double amid the growing coronavirus pandemic, he said.
On Friday, Mr Hazzard said a major redevelopment already underway at Dubbo Hospital was planned to bring more ICU beds in six to 12 months.
However, this would now be hastened due to COVID-19 with 20 new ICU beds to be added, bringing the hospital's total to 32.
While in Mudgee, he said the town's new hospital would operate concurrently with the old hospital.
"They have 23 beds in the existing Mudgee Hospital, but there will be 28 new beds in the new hospital, so that will take it to 51 beds," Mr Hazzard said.
However, a statement released by Western NSW Local Health District (LHD) on Friday afternoon has further clarified the increased services at Dubbo Hospital.
"The early commissioning of beds in late June will mean that we have bed spaces available across both the old and new parts of the hospital if needed, including up to 18 ventilated beds," LHD chief executive Scott McLachlan said.
"The district normally has 11 ventilated in the base hospitals at Bathurst, Orange and Dubbo. We're in process of more than tripling that number to 48.
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"These ventilated beds are critical for people who become very sick with COVID-19."
Mr McLachlan said the new Mudgee Hospital will be commissioned in mid-May.
He said all hospitals in the region had a role to play if there was a dramatic escalation in demand as a result of COVID-19.
"Our plans will look to ensure that vulnerable patients, and especially the aged care residents we have in many of our facilities, are protected as much as possible," Mr McLachlan said.
"We will need to constantly review and configure our services to make sure that patients and residents, both those with COVID-19 as well as other patients, are cared for in the most appropriate setting."
Mr McLachlan said it was important to note, as international experience has shown, that around 80 per cent of people who contract the COVID-19 virus will likely have mild illness and be able to self-isolate at home without any need for hospitalisation.
Of those with more severe infections, only around five per cent require intensive care
