Mr Hazzard said the planning and construction work on Stages 3 and 4 of the $150 million Dubbo Hospital redevelopment was forging ahead in leaps and bounds.

While in the region he also took time to visit Mudgee, to see how the $70.2 million redevelopment of Mudgee Hospital was progressing.

Mr Hazzard’s visit to Dubbo Hospital, his first since becoming Health Minister included a look at the new Clinical Services Building and a tour of the construction progress of Stage 3 of the redevelopment.

He also confirmed stage 4 works for Dubbo Hospital, which includes the construction of a new three-storey clinical building, are expected to commence in the next few months.

“Health staff and clinicians have been key to the planning and design of Dubbo Hospital’s redevelopment and their colleagues down the road at Mudgee will be integral to the planning of their facility, too,” Mr Hazzard said.

“Everyone involved deserves a massive gold star for their stellar efforts in delivering first-class health facilities.”

Stages 3 and 4 include an emergency department, short stay unit, medical imaging unit, critical care floor, an ambulatory care unit and a renal dialysis unit.

The $35 million Dubbo Integrated Cancer Centre will include a PET CT scanner for cancer diagnostics, a bunker for radiation therapy and 16 chemotherapy treatment spaces.

Dubbo MP Troy Grant said the redevelopment of both Dubbo and Mudgee was fantastic news for the region.

“The progress of both projects is fantastic. When you think about what was available and the incredible services and facilities that will soon be delivered, it’s very exciting,” Mr Grant said.

“Labor neglected hospitals in Mudgee and Dubbo and indeed all around the state – most hadn’t been upgraded in decades – but the NSW government is going above and beyond.

“We recently invested $10.2 million more than the $60 million previously committed in 2015 for Mudgee, while Dubbo has seen a $10 million NSW government investment towards the Integrated Cancer Centre on top of the hundreds of millions already invested.”

The lead design team for Mudgee Hospital is working on the Master Plan, which will map the new facility on the existing campus and is scheduled to be unveiled in October.

Mr Grant and Mr Hazzard outlined progress of the Mudgee redevelopment to locals at a community forum, as promised by Mr Grant, and discussed local health service needs.

Mr Grant was also joined by John Barilaro on Monday to announce a regional train maintenance facility has been proposed for Dubbo, as well as the introduction of an entirely new fleet of trains for regional NSW.