Neonatal Intensive Care Unit At John Hunter Children’s Hospital Officially Opened

BY IAN CROUCH

Health Minister, Jillian Skinner today officially opened the upgraded Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at the John Hunter Children’s Hospital.

Work on the $7 million Stage 1 project began in May last year and now provides 32 special care spaces, a palliative care room, showering facilities, a breast feeding and expressing room, new waiting area, three counselling rooms and a family room with overnight accommodation.

The unit is now double its previous size and can cater for 1100 newborns each year in state-of-the-art facilities.

“When I first visited the old Neonatal Unit Intensive Care Unit I was shocked at how cramped it was…the space for one baby was the space for four,” Mrs Skinner said.

Stages 2 and 3 of the project will include a redeveloped intensive care unit, isolation rooms, a procedure room, staff training areas and office spaces at a cost of $18 million.

Work on Stage 2 began last month.

Mrs Skinner also visited Tomaree Hospital today to inspect the soon-to-be-completed upgrade to the emergency department which was funded through a bequest from local couple, Tom and Rose Pearce and a contribution from Hunter New England Health.

Health  Minster Jillian Skinner At Today’s Official Opening