Palmerston regional HosPital
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Palmerston regional HosPital
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n Australia’s Northern Territory, the Palmerston Regional Hospital is preparing to open its doors to patients in the Top End community in 2018. As a $170 million facility, it is the NT’s first new public hospital in almost four decades. The 116-bed hospital will deliver primary and community health care services to Territorians for generations to come. Employing 340 staff, Palmerston will be the most technologically advanced hospital building in the NT. It is part of the NT Government’s long-term plan for a modern health service for Palmerston
and Darwin rural residents.The Palmerston Regional Hospital project is jointly funded by the Australian and Northern Territory Governments. Planned to Perfection The hospital’s planning process included looking at the specific factors such as remote location, diverse population and the spread of facilities and services over a large distance.It has taken into account trends in population and health into the future for the region as well as community input. The location of the hospital has been
Managing Director: Adam Hay
Email: adam@hrcr.com.au
Tel: 0408 089 299
Address: 6 Nebo Road, East Arm NT 0822
Office: 0417 171 262/ 0417 262 255
Postal: PO Box 734 Karama NT 0813
Fax: (08) 8947 3728
Website: www.hrcr.com.au
chosen specifically so the site has potential to grow when needed. The 45 hectare site on the corner of the Stuart Highway and Temple Terrace means hospital services and car parking can expand quickly. It also allows for more businesses to be part of the health precinct around the hospital. One of the unique aspects of the new hospital is that the contractors are all 100 per cent local contacts. This work, worth $101 million, has ensured that Australian companies have benefitted from the development of the hospital site. About 160 people are working on the project, almost doubling to 300 by the middle of this year. Building schedule The Palmerston Regional Hospital build is on track for completion expected in early 2018. The NT Government
has been able to use experience of design and services of other national hospitals to ensure patients receive the best possible care. It will also improve Aboriginal health through culturally appropriate service and use environmentally sustainable practices. The hospital is being built to meet the needs of the Top End community and provide flexibility for growth. The new hospital will help to reduce pressure and waiting times at Royal Darwin Hospital (RDH) while delivering health services on time and efficiently. Rehabilitation geriatric evaluation and management will move to the new hospital from RDH and ensure a smooth transition for patients. Palmerston Regional Hospital will also connect with other non-hospital health services, such as disability and GP services, for the benefit of patients.
emergency dePartment Patient care will also be improved with the opening of the new hospital.It will mean patients with minor traumas in the Palmerston and rural area will no longer have to travel to Royal Darwin Hospital and wait to be seen. They can be treated quickly for their injuries - such as fractures and stitches, at Palmerston Regional. The 24/7 emergency department at the hospital will also be in collaboration with the emergency medicine services at RDH. Key links with St John Ambulance are
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critical to the operation of the model, which is premised on the bypass of patients who are critically unwell from Palmerston Regional Hospital to Royal Darwin Hospital. The Emergency Department at Palmerston will receive, assess, stabilise and manage adult and paediatric patients who present with a wide range of conditions of varying degrees of urgency. Following assessment and management patients may be discharged home, transferred to another facility or admitted to the inpatient ward. designed with Patients in mind The hospital has been designed to be functional, practical and aesthetically
pleasing, with every ward looking onto green grass. “It’s a really nice place for patients to be,” said General Manager of operational commissioning Sharon Sykes.“Part of the design had changed in response to the community saying they didn’t want another tower block. “Palmerston is a great opportunity to ease some of the pressure for beds on Royal Darwin Hospital,” she said. “Given the growth of renal disease in the NT, that’s more than likely a service (that will one day be offered).” This brand new hospital will open in March 2018 and, after three months of trial and testing, the hospital’s first patients will be accepted.
Oliver Moy Publisher For enquiries email okm@aubusinesscoverage.com