A topping out ceremony for the $348 million Gosford Hospital redevelopment today marked the fast-tracked, 11-storey clinical services building reaching its highest point.

Minister for Health Brad Hazzard joined Parliamentary Secretary for the Hunter and Central Coast Scot MacDonald, Member for Terrigal Adam Crouch and Taylor Martin, MLC, as a Norfolk Pine was raised to the new rooftop helipad of the 11- storey hospital.

“We have delivered on our promise to fast-track the revamp of Gosford Hospital. This is a top-notch facility that will serve the people of the Central Coast well into the future,” Mr Hazzard said.

“The NSW Government is investing more than $7.7 billion into health infrastructure across the state in a record building boom, and the Central Coast is no exception.”

As well as a new car park with about 800 spaces, the redevelopment includes:

• a new, expanded emergency department
• a new, expanded intensive care/high dependency unit
• more operating theatres and medical imaging services
• more inpatient beds for medical, acute and sub-acute services
• a new psychiatric emergency care centre and cardiac unit
• expanded maternity, cancer and cardiovascular services.

Mr MacDonald said the NSW Government has partnered with Lendlease and the Darkinjung Local Aboriginal Land Council to provide local jobs, including 30 apprenticeships, 11 of which are local Indigenous apprentices.

“This project is a boost for locals with up to 20 per cent of the contractors and subcontractors of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander descent,” Mr MacDonald said.

Local MP Adam Crouch said with strong population growth forecast, he was very pleased that Gosford Hospital will well and truly meet future patient demand.

"The record investment in this vital health infrastructure will also open up additional employment opportunities on the Central Coast, especially for doctors and nurses.”

The overall redevelopment is expected to be completed by late 2019.​