Boost to health services

These new facilities were John Hunter Hospital’s dedicated operating theatre for pregnant woman, its new complex pain service for children and Belmont Hospital’s sub-acute unit.

Health Minister Jillian Skinner took a tour through John Hunter Hospital in the morning to look at the new facilities.

She said they will make a huge difference to the quality of healthcare provided in the region.

“For those birthing women who require emergency care, the new obstetrics theatre will allow them swifter access to surgery with less waiting for caesarean procedures or obstetric operations,” Ms Skinner said.

“Having a theatre exclusively for the use of birthing mothers increases the capacity for the wider surgical workload of the hospital, including emergency and elective surgery cases.”

Next up was the children’s hospital complex pain service launch, the first one to be rolled out in NSW.

“Local children and young people suffering from chronic pain now have access to enhanced life-changing treatment through this service,” Ms Skinner said.

“Now patients and their families have timely access to a pain specialist, clinical nurse consultant, physiotherapist and clinical psychologist.”

The Belmont sub-acute unit will provide the hospital with 16 new beds and ease the burden on patients who need more serious care.

It will also stop patients being discharged early which can often lead to them having to return to hospital later on.

“For those patients who are well but not quite ready to go home, sub acute units play a supportive role in the discharging process,” Ms Skinner said.

“This means an unnecessary stay in an acute hospital bed can be avoided to ensure patients with more complex conditions are able to access the vital care they need.”