Hunter New England - Newcastle John Hunter Childrens Hospital PICU

Services

Contact point

Picture of Drew Varnum
Drew Varnum Executive Director 02 4908 4999

John Hunter Children’s Hospital is one of three children’s hospitals in NSW and the only one outside the Sydney metropolitan area.  The hospital required a new Paediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) to accommodate increased demand for services across the region and to improve workflow due to the restricted footprint of the existing facilities.  Hunter New England Local Health District undertook a refurbishment project to provide a facility that would meet Health Facility Guidelines and align with NSW Health policy.

NSW Public Works were engaged to manage the project, including design and delivery management; risk management; tendering and procurement; contract administration, and handover and commissioning.  The refurbishment includes a new reception area, expanded staff room, and a new standalone eight Bed PICU and four bed ICU.

Lift access was provided off the external helipad walkway, and direct access from public and staff dedicated linkways connected to the existing ICU.  An external terrace caters for patient and family use and additional shell space was provided to allow for future clinical expansion and administrative office fit-out.  The refurbishment also includes a landscaped memorial AIDS garden.  The project was delivered within the approved budget and program.  The new PICU facility reflects contemporary models of care in an environment that provides safety, dignity and privacy for the children and families of Northern NSW.