THE new $470 million Maitland Hospital is on track to open early 2022, with the project promising to deliver "significantly" more beds and treatment spaces for the growing Maitland and Hunter communities.
With the main structure of the hospital complete, the focus of the development has shifted to the external facade and internal fit-out.
Ramsay Awad, the executive director of infrastructure and planning for Hunter New England Health, said the development's design met current needs, but also allowed for expansion as demand for health services grow in the area - particularly in the next 10-to-15 years.
"I'm excited for the staff and community, because they have been doing a fantastic job, but they have been operating out of a facility that is passed its use-by date," Mr Awad said.
"The current hospital is quite an old facility, and we have done lots of work to keep it up to a certain standard, but it is very difficult to move old brick walls to give people the space they need."
The new facility will offer chemotherapy chairs for cancer patients - a service not available at the old hospital site - in a spacious, light-filled room with a view.
It will also offer surgical and critical care services, maternity and paediatric care services, as well as cardiac catheterisation, inpatient beds, mental health services, palliative care, outpatients clinics, renal dialysis, oral health and imaging services.
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The hospital will have a larger maternity area with six birthing suites, each with a large birthing bath. An outdoor area will have provisions, such as medical gases, for intensive care and close observation patients to go outside in their beds to get some sun and fresh air.
In comparison to the current facility, NSW Health Infrastructure says the new Maitland Hospital will have almost double the number of beds over three levels of inpatient units and with a mix of single and double rooms.
The double rooms have been designed in a "toe to toe" formation, so all patients can enjoy the window outlook.
The new hospital has a dedicated accident and emergency entrance, with a fast-track zone set up for patients with less severe injuries to separate them from patients requiring more high acuity care or resuscitation.
A rooftop helipad has direct lift access to the Emergency Department.
NSW Health Infrastructure estimates almost 5000 jobs will have been created, both directly and indirectly, from the project. An average of 560 workers are on site each day.
Multiplex project manager Jeff Wall said extensive consultation had been conducted with consumer representatives, clinical staff, the community and the NSW Ambulance Service to ensure a more cohesive, efficient hospital design for Maitland.
"We have had a less-than-optimal health facility up here, but we have been able to start from scratch on this project to make sure it is really fit-for-purpose," Mr Wall said.
"This area is pumping, it is growing like you wouldn't believe, so this will be good for the community."
Relocation planning for the new hospital started in early 2019 and approximately 1400 staff will transition to the new facility.
NSW Health Infrastructure said any additional workforce required in the new hospital would be determined during "transition planning".
