The Minns Labor Government will invest $20.2 million to deliver a new contemporary operating theatre at Forbes Hospital in the state's west, as part of the 2025-26 NSW Budget, continuing to rebuild essential health services for the people of NSW.
The funding will deliver a new contemporary operating theatre and supporting clinical spaces, which will include enhanced virtual care technology, to better support one of the fastest growing populations in Western NSW Local Health District.
When complete, the new theatre will also allow for more services to be offered to patients closer to home, while patients will also benefit from being able to access enhanced virtual care services.
The new contemporary operating theatre will also assist with enhanced surgical service delivery to the region and allow for greater flexibility for staff.
Services currently provided at Forbes Hospital include:
- 24-hour Emergency Department
- Acute and sub-acute medical, surgical, rehabilitation and palliative care
- Ambulatory care clinic
- Birthing rooms and maternity beds
- An operating theatre
- Renal dialysis chairs
- Medical imaging
- Community and primary health service.
Planning for the upgraded operating theatre will begin in the coming months.
The Minns Labor Government's 2025-26 NSW Budget delivers on the challenging but important work to rebuild essential services by investing in infrastructure which provides the healthcare that the people of NSW rely on.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Regional Health Ryan Park:
"Western NSW is growing and Forbes Hospital's current operating theatre was built in 1969.
"Our government is ensuring local healthcare facilities grow with it by investing in projects like this one.
"By delivering a new contemporary operating theatre and virtual care technology at Forbes Hospital, we are making sure the community has access to the best health facilities without having to travel too far from their home and family."
Quotes attributable to Member for Orange, Phil Donato:
"Forbes Hospital's ageing surgical theatre is in growing local demand, where more than 770 procedures have been performed in the last financial year.
"It was a privilege to join Minister Park on his tour at the Forbes Hospital last year, where we saw for ourselves the pressing need for a surgical theatre upgrade.
"Funding of a new surgical theatre at Forbes Hospital was a top budget priority of mine, and I am grateful to both Minister Park and Treasurer Mookhey for responding to my request with this $20.2m funding announcement. This significant investment to improve surgical care will greatly benefit Forbes and surrounding communities for years to come."
