Sydney Adventist Hospital on track to become the biggest private health facility in NSW

Mike Fairbairn & Kieran Gair

Throughout the past century the Sydney Adventist Hospital (San) at Wahroonga has been a leading centre for health on the North Shore. A sharp increase in demand and a large-scale redevelopment project will now transform the San into the biggest private hospital in NSW.

The hospital will undergo a $180 million upgrade to its facilities, in an attempt to deal with an expected rise in patient numbers.

Adventist Healthcare communications manager, Leisa O’Connor, said the development of a new maternity unit, women’s health centre, children’s centre and a purpose built cancer centre is in line with the Adventist ideal that the San is with you for life.

“The redevelopment will make us the biggest private hospital in NSW. We will effectively be doubling the hospital’s size,” O’Connor said.

“It will enable us to help the young families with our new maternity centre and we will be able to care for our increasing aging population. We will be able to support the community in every stage of life.”

The project is expected to increase overnight inpatient bed numbers by 180 to 538 beds to cater for an increase in 35,000 admissions per year and provide for up to an additional 14 operating theatres and enhanced medical consulting space.

The new $20 million integrated cancer centre will allow easy patient access to diagnostic, consulting, treatment and recovery services. And in an effort to extend the scope of cancer care the San will also focus on developing multidisciplinary medical and allied health services to optimise patient outcomes.

CEO of Adventist HealthCare Limited, Dr Leon Clark, believes the redevelopment will improve health services in northern Sydney.

“The San is the largest single campus private hospital in NSW with over 2400 staff, 500 volunteers and 700 specialist doctors,” Clark said.

“We treat more than 50,000 inpatients and 175,000 outpatients each year; and we expect a 60 per cent increase in demand for our services between now and 2026. This is why we must grow and provide new, expanded and refurbished facilities and services.”

With 250,000 patients each year, the redevelopment represents one of the largest construction projects in NSW. Buildcorp was awarded the contract in 2011.

Buildcorp Group Managing Director, Tony Sukkar, said the company is collaborating with clients and stakeholders, enabling them to deliever true value and transparency.

“This collaborative approach will define the entire project from start to finish, so we can deliever a state-of-the-art redevelopment that will cater to the expected increased need for the hospital’s vital facilities,” Sukkar said.

The redevelopment has been on track for the majority of its construction with the new car park opening last year and construction expected to be fully completed towards the end of September.