The new rooftop helipad delivered as part of the Shoalhaven Hospital Redevelopment is one step closer to becoming operational, with successful test landing and take-off exercises now complete.
The Minns Government is investing $440 million in the Hospital's new seven storey acute services building, which will deliver modern and contemporary health facilities for the Illawarra region from later this year.
The rooftop helipad features one landing pad and a dedicated lift which will support patient transfers and a direct connection to critical care services including the emergency department and intensive care unit.
The new helipad was constructed using 30 truckloads of concrete, sits 34 metres above ground level and spans 25 metres in diameter.
Construction of the Shoalhaven Hospital Redevelopment is progressing, with internal fit-out continuing to take shape including delivery of major medical equipment and furniture.
Once complete, the redevelopment will provide the majority of emergency, critical care, acute, sub-acute and non-admitted health services locally and reduce the need to transfer patients to Wollongong and Sydney.
The Hospital's new acute services building will directly connect to the existing hospital site and deliver a range of new and expanded health services including:
- A new emergency department and emergency short-stay unit
- new intensive care unit
- medical wards
- dedicated acute mental health unit
- double the number of operating theatres, endoscopy and procedure rooms
- a dedicated cardiology inpatient unit, coronary care unit and cardiac catheterisation laboratory
- a new rooftop helipad.
Consultation with staff, patients and the community has been a key part of planning and design for the redevelopment, ensuring the new hospital expansion meets the unique future and growing health needs of the Shoalhaven region.
The Shoalhaven Hospital Redevelopment is on track for construction completion in mid- 2026 and will be followed by operational commissioning and testing to ensure the new building and staff are ready to welcome patients.
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.
Quote attributable to Minister for Health Ryan Park:
"The successful test flight marks an important milestone for the redevelopment, bringing the new acute services building one step closer to welcoming patients.
"The new helipad will ensure patients have a direct connection to and from the hospital's expanded emergency department and fast access to lifesaving emergency care when they need it most.
"The Shoalhaven Hospital Redevelopment is part of the Minns Government's more than $1 billion in health infrastructure investment across the Illawarra Shoalhaven region which will provide high quality healthcare closer to home in Shellharbour, Wollongong, Milton and Ulladulla."
Quote attributable to Member for South Coast Liza Butler:
"The Shoalhaven Hospital Redevelopment will be a health hub for the region, and the new helipad will be a valuable service in helping patients access emergency and critical care quickly.
"I'm delighted to see the new acute services building nearing completion, which will deliver new and enhanced health facilities that will transform healthcare for the South Coast community and ensure people can continue to access high quality care, closer to home."
Quotes attributable to Member for Kiama Katelin McInerney:
"With distance presenting a challenge for regional communities, this helipad provides a vital lifeline for our community and represents the kind of investment our government is prioritising - ensuring regional patients have the access to the best healthcare and emergency services and our hospitals have the additional numbers of nurses, paramedics and clinicians we need to deliver that care"
Quotes attributable to NSW Ambulance interim Chief Executive Clare Beech:
"NSW Ambulance has worked closely with Health Infrastructure and the Hospital's local project team throughout the planning and development of the new rooftop helipad at Shoalhaven Hospital, with our aeromedical crews and aviation partner successfully carrying out test landings as part of the commissioning process.
"Having a dedicated rooftop helipad at Shoalhaven Hospital enhances our ability to bring critically unwell or injured patients directly into the hospital emergency department or intensive care unit as quickly and safely as possible, when every minute matters."
