$700M Rouse Hill Hospital Vow
By Bev Jordan
Premier Chris Minns has confirmed that $700million has been earmarked by the new Labor Government to build a 300-bed Rouse Hill Public Hospital with an Emergency Department.
In a response to questions by the Hills to Hawkesbury Community News following the State Election result, the Premier’s office confirmed it would be going ahead with the pre-election promise to more than double the Coalition Government’s commitment to health in the North-West.
The Coalition government had promised a $300 million Rouse Hill Hospital. The then Health Minister, Brad Hazzard, turned the first sod on the development on March 2nd, weeks out from the State election which saw a change in Government.
The new hospital site is located at the corner of Commercial Road and Windsor Road, opposite The Fiddler hotel.
New Health Minister Ryan Park told the Hills to Hawkesbury Community News this week that Rouse Hill Hospital will deliver comprehensive healthcare services to this growing population, especially to young families.
The expansion of Rouse Hill Hospital will include:
• An Emergency Department including urgent care centre and emergency medicine
• Comprehensive maternity services and women’s health services
• Day surgery unit
• Adult and pediatric short stay unit
• Ambulatory and outpatients care including day chemotherapy and infusion, renal dialysis, mental health, and ante/post-natal care
• Comprehensive medical imaging services
• Prehabilitation and rehabilitation services
Mr Park said: “The Liberals promised this hospital for eight years without taking any action to see this much needed facility delivered. Labor is committed to delivering Rouse Hill Hospital.
“We will have more to say on this project as it progresses.”
Labor’s pre-election promise was that: Any new hospitals built under Labor will move to a full campus model, starting with Rouse Hill which will have a childcare centre and healthcare worker housing, both on site.
The pre-election promise also announced $150 million to expand the capacity of Blacktown and Mt Druitt Hospitals – including an additional 60 beds and additional services such as chemotherapy, cancer treatment, and dialysis.
The likely date for completion of Rouse Hill Hospital is late 2027 or early 2028.
TIMELINE
• The timeline for announcements about a hospital at Rouse Hill began in March 2015 when the then Premier Mike Baird said his Government would set aside $300 million to build a new hospital at Rouse Hill if re-elected.
• Money was allocated In the 2017/18 Budget to undertake the planning of Rouse Hill Health Service.
• In the 2018/2019 Budget the Government allocated $75 million for land acquisition for the new hospital.
• In March 2021 The Government confirmed a site on the north-eastern side of Windsor Rd for the hospital.
• In November 2022 a Master plan for a $300million Rouse Hill Hospital was released.
• January 2023 the then Labor Opposition leader Chris Minns announced a $700 million commitment to the new Rouse Hill Hospital with an Emergency Department should it be re-elected.
• April 2023. The newly elected Premier Chris Minns and Health Minister Ryan Park confirmed the $700 million investment for the new Rouse Hill Hospital.
