A short-term staff residence building at Singleton Hospital has been completed, with two Doctors already staying in the accommodation.

Located at the rear of the hospital, the residence has four bedrooms with ensuites, and common kitchen, lounge, dining and laundry areas.

The $550,000 project aims to address a lack of short-term accommodation in the area, and Singleton Health Services Manager Wendy Mason-Jones says it will be particularly helpful in staff recruitment.

“If we recruit somebody and they move to Singleton, and they’re finding it difficult to find somewhere the live or rent, we can offer them short term accommodation to help out with that.”

She says it’ll also make it easier for medical students assigned to the region for placement.

“It’ll give them somewhere to stay while they’re doing their clinical work at the hospital.”

The project follows on from the construction of similar facilities in Muswellbrook and Gloucester.

The Hospital’s Emergency Department will also be upgraded in the coming months, with a bed increase from three to seven, along with a number of other improved services.