A NSW Health proposal for the construction of a large new hospital in the Blue Mountains has been revealed, including a possible relocation from Katoomba and the closure of Springwood Hospital.
In a statement provided exclusively to the Gazette, a spokesman for the Nepean Blue Mountains Local Health District said the new hospital was a top priority to meet the healthcare needs of the local community, and to help take pressure off Penrith’s Nepean Hospital.
A process of community consultation will now begin to inform details such as the hospital’s clinical services, facilities and location.
“A new hospital in the Blue Mountains is the number one priority in the Nepean Blue Mountains Local Health District Asset Strategic Plan,” said the spokesman.
“We will be consulting widely with the Blue Mountains community to ensure their needs shape how healthcare is delivered in the Blue Mountains,” he said.
“Blue Mountains District Anzac Memorial Hospital has grown over more than 90 years and served the community well, but there is a need to consider how we can best deliver healthcare into the future.
“Preliminary reviews have suggested a larger hospital serving the region from the Lower Mountains to the Upper Mountains is needed to meet future demand and reduce the need for residents to travel outside the region for their care.”
The spokesman said that as a first step, NSW Health experts were working on a clinical services plan to help inform the business case for the new hospital “and in turn, help set the budget for the project”.
“At this very early stage, we are exploring several options for potential locations for the new hospital, including the current site, but no decision has been made,” he added.
While the location of the new hospital is still being determined, a planning document seen by the Gazette, titled One Hospital Plan for the Blue Mountains, canvassed two possible options: the current hospital site in Katoomba and the old Lawson Golf Course, which closed in April 2004.
The Gazette understands the Katoomba option would involve redevelopment of the current hospital and an expansion of its campus onto adjacent land owned by the Blue Mountains City Council, including Katoomba Showground. Some of the adjacent land is already used informally by the hospital for surplus car parking.
The Lawson option, meanwhile, would involve requisition of the old Lawson Golf Course, which is Crown land managed by the Blue Mountains City Council. The site is used by the local community as a recreation space and dog off-leash walking area. Blue Mountains City Council is currently developing a master plan for the area.
Under the document, both options would involve the closure of Springwood Hospital, which would be merged with the new hospital.
While earlier planning documents had flagged the possibility of Lithgow Hospital closing and merging with a new, larger Blue Mountains hospital, this has now been ruled out.
“Lithgow Hospital will continue to deliver hospital services to the communities west of the Mountains,” said the Nepean Blue Mountains Local Health District spokesman.
A spokesperson for Blue Mountains City Council said the council had agreed to work with NSW Health on plans for an expansion, rebuild and possible relocation of the Blue Mountains District Anzac Memorial Hospital.
“We have only had very preliminary discussions with NSW Health about the One Hospital Plan for the Blue Mountains proposal … however we understand that this is a long-term plan that is at concept stage only,” the spokesperson said.
“We have expressed our willingness to work with NSW Heath as they progress the review of opportunities for district hospital facilities and look forward to engaging with the NSW Government and the community on the future of this critical health service.”
