The Territory Government continues to deliver on providing the best possible health facilities and services while creating jobs with the first ever hydrotherapy pool nearing completion at Palmerston Regional Hospital (PRH).
The $3.1 million Territory Labor funded aquatic facility has been awarded to Scope Building NT and has created 20 jobs. Construction commenced in August 2018 and the pool is expected to be completed by early 2019. The Hydrotherapy pool is collocated with the new Northern Territory centre of excellence for rehabilitative care, providing 24 beds with outdoor courtyards, rehabilitation spaces and a gym.
The hydrotherapy pool will be available for PRH inpatients and rehabilitation outpatients, who would have previously had to travel to the Darwin Private Hospital for Aquatic Physiotherapy.
Patients with neurological impairments such as stroke, head injury or cerebral palsy and degenerative neurological conditions such as Multiple Sclerosis and Parkinsons disease will improve muscle strength, control, functional capacity and balance following hydrotherapy.
Hydrotherapy offers patients pain relief, increased mobility in joints, provide vital exercise to weak muscles, reduce muscle spasms, increase and improve circulation and improve balance and coordination and excellent therapy for elderly patients.
Initially the hydrotherapy pool will be available for PRH inpatients and rehabilitation outpatients. There will be opportunities, after appropriate training, for community groups such as Arthritis and Osteoporosis NT, MS Society, Childrens Development, Healthy Living NT and others to have access to the facility.
The Hydro pool is a key element of the NT Rehabilitation Strategy 2017-2021, developed by the NT Rehabilitation Health Network after extensive consultation with all relevant stakeholder, to guide the development, coordination and improvement of Territory wide rehabilitation services.
The new hydrotherapy pool will open in early 2019.
This is off the back of recent job creating health projects, including:
Recently completed upgrades to Oncology and Cardiac units at Alice Springs Hospital created 90 jobs.
Palmerston Regional Hospital Construction created 380 jobs.
Palmerston Regional Hospital delivery created 300 new jobs and supports 450 local ongoing jobs.
The current health house demolition has created 250 jobs
Free Multistorey Carpark at Royal Darwin Hospital created 150 jobs
Upgrades to Gove Hospital created 35 jobs
Upgrades to the Nightcliff Renal Unit are currently underway and have created 120 jobs.
Comments from Minister for Health, Natasha Fyles:
The Territory Labor Government continues to improve access to health services and facilities with the construction of a Hydrotherapy pool at the new Palmerston Regional Hospital.
This state of the art pool will improve quality of life for patients and upskill practitioners to better care for and treat Territorians.
This addition to the state of the art rehabilitation unit at PRH is supporting local jobs.
