The hospital's day procedure unit, which was running at capacity, will be expanded and other changes include new paint and floor coverings, the addition of a gymnasium and redesigned and enlarged inpatient rooms.

In addition, the hospital will invest in new state-of-the-art surgical equipment, including laparoscopic towers.

The hospital will celebrate 22 years of service to Dubbo in June and community feedback had told the hospital's management an update of decor was needed.

The move comes less than a week after the hospital came under new ownership.

Luye Medical announced the purchase of the Healthe Care group, which included a portfolio of 17 hospitals, last Thursday.

In his statement, group chairman Liu Dian Bo said his company had the "capital and commitment to fund expansion of Healthe Care's hospitals to enable it to continue to bolster its position as one of the leading healthcare services companies in the country."

Tuesday's announcement showed they were serious.

There is still work to do to close the gap between the level of service received in metropolitan and regional areas but the redevelopment of Dubbo Hospital and now the upgrade of the city's private hospital shows that we are heading in the right direction.

Let's hope it continues.