Demolition of the George Hatch Building and the old Playmates Cottage has begun under the hospital’s $150 million stage three and four redevelopment.

Internal walls are being stripped, and trees and landscaping removed, before the buildings are knocked down.

Installation of in-ground services for stage four redevelopment is also under way. 

“These works will take several months to complete before construction can start on the new three-storey clinical building,” a health Infrastructure spokeswoman said.

Stage three construction of a third floor on the hospital’s Talbragar Building for use as a surgical inpatient unit is complete.

Stage four’s three-storey clinical building will be built at the south-eastern side of the hospital grounds.

It will include an emergency department and short stay unit, medical imaging unit, ambulatory care unit and critical care floor encompassing a coronary care/stroke unit, intensive care unit and cardiac catheter laboratory.

The building will also feature a new front of house and drop-off zone.

“A new car park will also be constructed at the south-eastern side of the campus,” the spokeswoman said.

The state government funded the new $1.8 million building in Moran Drive, owned by Dubbo Regional Council and leased to Playmates Cottage.

The George Hatch Building was named after the first man to graduate from the NSW College of Nursing, who served Dubbo Hospital for 44 years.