Patients at Ballina District Hospital will soon benefit from a new, state-of-the-art operating theatre complex and medical imaging upgrades under a $7.35 million redevelopment.

Minister for Health Brad Hazzard, together with Ben Franklin, Parliamentary Secretary for Northern NSW, today announced the start of demolition works for Stage 2 of the redevelopment, jointly funded by the Commonwealth and State governments.

“Modern facilities are key to ensuring our clinicians and hospital staff can continue to provide the high-quality health care that our local communities deserve,” Mr Franklin said.

“Stage 2 of this significant redevelopment will pave the way for upgrades to surgical services at Ballina District Hospital, with a new operating theatre and a new recovery area.”

Mr Hazzard said the upgrades are part of the NSW Liberals and Nationals’ commitment to delivering first-class health services to Northern NSW.

“Ben Franklin has been a great champion for the Ballina community and now the Northern NSW region is benefiting from the fruits of his labour, with several new and expanded health services either completed or near completion,” Mr Hazzard said.

“This significant upgrade for Ballina District Hospital comes on top of the investment of more than $320 million in the Lismore Base Hospital redevelopment, with the project right on schedule to deliver brand new equipment for Central Sterilisation services to support the fantastic, new theatre complex at Lismore.”

Construction will soon begin on new back-of-house services at Ballina, including a loading dock and storage space (including space for biomedical equipment testing), plant room, maintenance office and workshop, and a new medical records department.

The full scope of works for the Ballina District Hospital, to be completed by late 2018, also includes stores and utilities, IT and office spaces and staff amenities.

Stage 1 was completed in early 2017, with significant medical imaging upgrades, including a new CT scanner and ultrasound services.