A pilot project has proven the use of prefabricated housing to deliver sustainable outcomes for visiting medical staff and families of patients at Tamworth Base Hospital. Two four-bedroom and two single self-contained units were installed for patient support, to accommodate visiting families of patients at the hospital. These units, managed by Rotary, provide practical and comfortable accommodation for family, relatives and friends of seriously ill or injured persons to be close to their loved ones while receiving treatment.

All units were designed with energy efficiency and comfort in mind and include the use of solar panels and rainwater tanks. They were fabricated off-site then installed within the old hospital helipad site which has been redundant since relocating to a rooftop helipad arrangement. NSW Public Works partnered with Hunter New England Local Health District on the design, procurement and contract administration of the prefabricated modular residential accommodation.

The prefabricated housing market is highly mature with quality product efficiently manufactured in controlled environments. The buildings are of high design quality, private, comfortable and incorporate sustainability measures. The use of prefabricated housing allows concurrent off site and on-site activity to optimise delivery timeframes and product quality. Regional contractors are engaged, with local trades and suppliers a key requirement of the
procurement model.

The next stage in modular short stay accommodation is already underway, with NSW Public Works working to deliver the Rural Hospital Staff Accommodation Program—a $20 million, two-year program delivering 44 accommodation units on 12 different sites across the Hunter New
England and Far West Local Health Districts.

With seven sites already completed and program completion due in June 2023, the model is proving its worth across regional NSW.

This pilot program has successfully proved the benefits of prefabricated modular self-contained short stay accommodation on hospital sites, with plans already underway to replicate in other regional NSW locations. Rosemary Kelly, NSW Public Works Health Team Leader