By NICOLE WILLIAMS
WITHIN five years Berwick Village could be home to one of the largest private hospitals in the region.
St John of God Hospital Berwick is looking to the future and proposing an extensive redevelopment which will triple its current capacity, hospital CEO Lia Norman announced this week.
“2013 marks St John of God Health Care’s 10th anniversary in Berwick so it is fitting that we announce our future development plans that will take us through to the next decade” Ms Norman said.
“We want to maintain first class healthcare services which meet the needs of our community now and into the future.
“By redeveloping and expanding services at SJOG Berwick we will ensure we can deliver this.”
The hospital will take the proposal for the two stage development to the St John of God Health Care Board in October 2013.
Ms Norman said the first stage is expected to cost $65 million.
“Of course, raising this level of capital is a major undertaking for SJGHC.
“Therefore SJOG Berwick will seek community support to assist in fundraising for this major redevelopment.”
The first stage will include two additional theatres and overnight beds, increased day surgery capacity, a critical care unit, cardiac services and construction of a comprehensive cancer centre.
To help handle the more than 1000 births at the hospital each year, the development will also include a state-of-the-art maternity unit with 30 inpatient rooms, six delivery suites and an eight cot special care nursery.
A multi-level car park will aim to ease ongoing parking pressures at the hospital.
With the completion of both stages, the hospital will have tripled in size from its current 70 bed capacity to 200 beds.
Ms Norman said the hospital currently employed more than 400 staff and had more than 200 visiting doctors but as the hospital grew it would also offer more employment to local people.
Harry Hutchinson, president of Berwick Village Chamber of Commerce, and Annette Aldersea, president of Residents, Ratepayers and Friends of Berwick Village, said it was great news for the village.
“It’s really good news for Berwick because it is not only going to increase bed capacity, it is going to bring in new employees,” Mr Hutchinson said.
“It will create a new economy which will help us (Berwick Village traders).
“It’s a win/win.”
Ms Aldersea, said it was a great thing to have a hospital with such a long history in Berwick to be expanding its much needed services.
Although in support of the proposal, Ms Aldersea and Mr Hutchinson also had concerns about the hospital having enough parking, which has been an ongoing problem for Berwick Village.
The first sign of the redevelopment will be the opening of the day oncology unit in September, which has been fast tracked to help keep up with demand.
“To assist with some of the immediate needs we will begin in 2013 with the building of a day oncology unit… offering our community access to chemotherapy treatment that currently they are required to travel long distances for,” she said.
“We know that there is already great demand for local cancer services.”
Ms Norman said the community would be kept informed as architectural and engineering plans are developed prior to the expected build starting in 2014.
