A WEEK before he was elected to parliament Troy Grant was approached by group of doctors seeking a new approach at Dubbo Hospital.
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"The clinicians weren't happy about a master plan developed for staged refurbishment at the hospital site," the Member for Dubbo revealed yesterday.
"They asked if I would be prepared to throw out those plans and start again.
"After coming into government we went back to the drawing board to design a future for Dubbo Hospital.
"Work is well under way on the $91.3 million stage one and two development and the $150 million next component of the hospital upgrade will deliver a first-class facility for the region.
"It will also ensure our doctors, nurses and hospital staff have the workplace they deserve while attracting additional quality staff to the region."
Mr Grant said the government had a vision to future-proof the hospital site to meet the needs of Dubbo and the region.
"This funding announcement marks a record in health services across the region and will be a dream come true for clinical staff and the community," Mr Grant said.
"Dubbo Hospital has cared for our community for decades. It is fantastic to be able to give something back to this fine facility.
Health Infrastructure senior project director Bruno Zinghini said Dubbo Hospital would never stop growing.
"Stages three and four will build on what stages one and two have achieved," he said.
"The scope allows for the site to operate as an active hospital all the way through the multi-staged development."
Mr Zinghini said a new front door facing onto Myall Street would change the way the hospital flowed.
"It will open straight into a front of house area and the emergency department," he said.
"There will be a nice entry opening up into a green zone. An Aboriginal liaison office at the front of the hospital will have a courtyard and flow into all the other clinical services."
Mr Zinghini said the hospital redevelopment had been designed to go up rather than out to make the best use of the site and allow for future expansion as required.
"The multi-storey building will enable the hospital to be more efficient and shorten the distances staff have to walk from one area to another," he said.
