28 November 2005

Minister opens Kyogle's new $9.4 million health service

NSW Minister for Health John Hatzistergos today officially opened Kyogle Memorial Health, an extensive $9.4 million hospital redevelopment that incorporates 12 acute care beds and 25 aged care beds.

Mr Hatzistergos said the facility was designed to meet the health and aged care needs of the Kyogle community following extensive consultation with the local community and service providers.

"The NSW Government is committed to delivering better health services close to where people live and this project is an excellent example of what can be achieved when the community supports a well-designed and suitably funded project," Mr Hatzistergos said.
"Having recently marked the centenary of the founding of Kyogle Memorial Hospital, the community now has even more reason to feel proud of this state-of-the-art facility in their town."

"I would particularly like to thank the local community for its extraordinary generosity fundraising $224,000 towards the purchase of digital X-ray equipment, the community room and chapel with a beautiful stained glass window, shade sails, a new piano, landscaping and comforts for residents.

Kyogle Memorial Health includes:

• a 24 hour emergency department with a resuscitation bay and pathology
• 12 acute beds
• 25 aged care beds - single rooms with shared ensuites - with recurrent funding to be provided by the Commonwealth Government (there is space for an extra three beds to allow for growth)
• a new, relocated Community Health Centre
• 6 new community aged care packages to assist people to remain independent within the community
• an isolation room with one-way air-conditioning for infectious patients
• An on-site clinical procedure room allowing local GPs to undertake minor procedures which are within the role delineation of a Level 1 MPS service
• a new, co-located station for the NSW Ambulance Service
• a $217,000 modern radiology department that incorporates digital technology - the digital component of the X-ray room was supported by a community donation of $89,000, including $20,000 raised by the Kyogle Hospital Auxiliary.

The benefits of this digital technology include:

• Same day reporting via computer link to North Coast Radiology's Lismore offices.
• Computer link direct to Kyogle GPs rooms so they can view results remotely.
• Creating a film-less service which improves safety as the use of chemicals for film processing is eliminated.

"The new facility will assist staff in providing treatment to about 7,000 emergency attendances each year," Mr Hatzistergos said.

Kyogle Memorial Health is integrally linked to other service providers, public and private, who provide health and welfare services to the community.

For a range of health information, go online to www.health.nsw.gov.au