The new helipad on top of John Hunter Hospital's new acute services building has been given the green light after successful testing and commissioning.
The Minns Government is investing $835 million in the new acute services building, part of the John Hunter Health and Innovation Precinct, to enhance the hospital's capacity and capability as a tertiary referral centre supporting the health and wellbeing of communities across the Hunter and northern NSW.
Day and night test landings have been completed at the new helipad, paving the way for it to become operational when the new seven-storey acute services building opens its doors to patients later this year.
The rooftop helipad features two landing pads and a dedicated lift that will provide a direct connection to critical care services, including the emergency department and intensive care.
The successful test flights mark an important milestone for the redevelopment, bringing the new hospital one step closer to welcoming patients.
The new helipad was constructed using around 50 tonnes and more than 50 truckloads of concrete. It sits 30 metres above the ground and is 60 metres long and 26 metres wide.
The new acute services building will deliver:
- A new emergency department to meet a projected future demand of more than 95,000 presentations each year
- 22 operating theatres and nine interventional suites to respond to significantly increasing demand for surgical services
- birthing suites, inpatient maternity, neonatal intensive care, and special care units
- rooftop helipad for two helicopters
- more than 900 additional car parking spaces on the precinct for patients, staff, and visitors.
It will also deliver increased capacity, including 60 per cent more intensive care unit capacity and almost 50 per cent more operating theatres.
Work is progressing on the interior fit-out and landscaping, with final construction for the new building expected to be completed in mid-2026. This will be followed by an operational commissioning period to ensure the new building and staff are ready to welcome patients.
For more information about the project, visit: http://nsw.gov.au/john-hunter-redevelopment
The Minns Labor Government is investing $12.4 billion to build and upgrade health infrastructure across NSW, including $3.5 billion for critical hospital upgrades in regional NSW.
Labor is making the long-term investments into recruiting more staff and building more hospitals to better meet the growing health needs of our community and relieve pressure on our health system.
The Coalition cut healthcare staff, capped their wages and refused to introduce ratios. They failed to deliver enough beds, delayed building hospitals and tried to privatise emergency departments.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Regional Health Ryan Park:
"This milestone means we are one step closer to delivering expanded access to care to communities in the Hunter and northern NSW.
"The new helipad is a crucial piece of infrastructure that will ensure critically ill patients have fast access to lifesaving care.
"As a major trauma centre, John Hunter Hospital receives some of the most critically ill and injured patients from the Hunter region right up to northern NSW. The successful testing is a significant milestone, ensuring the new helipads are fully integrated with hospital operations and ready to safely support patients and staff."
Quotes attributable to Minister for the Hunter Yasmin Catley:
"The John Hunter Health and Innovation Precinct is a major investment in our growing region.
"More people are calling the Hunter home and it is so important that we have access to world-class, accessible healthcare and that's exactly what the Minns Labor Government is delivering.
"The new helipad will play a critical role in saving lives and ensuring patients can receive urgent and timely care when every second counts."
Quotes attributable to Member for Wallsend Sonia Hornery:
"John Hunter Hospital serves as an important trauma centre for our rural and regional communities in the Hunter and beyond. The new helipad will be a valuable service for patients who are critically ill or in need of specialist care.
"These tests are the culmination of extensive planning, design and investigation into all aspects of safety, operations, access and systems integration in the new hospital."
Quotes attributable to Member for Newcastle Tim Crakanthorp:
"Trauma patients from across northern NSW come to John Hunter Hospital to receive much-needed specialist care, many of whom are transported via helicopter."
"This new helipad will ensure those patients are attended to quickly and safely."
Quotes attributable to Sam Vidler, Staff Specialist Emergency and Retrieval Medicine, Hunter New England Local Health District
"For one of the busiest hospitals in the state, this dual helipad has been designed and constructed to the highest standards, bringing incredible value to the community members it will serve."
Quotes attributable to NSW Ambulance Interim Chief Executive Clare Beech
"As the primary users of the hospital landing sites, NSW Ambulance has been closely involved in the consultation for the new rooftop helipad at John Hunter Hospital.
"Having two helipads at the region's major trauma centre is incredibly valuable. It strengthens our ability to bring critically unwell or injured patients directly into the hospital as quickly and safely as possible, when every minute matters."
