Frequently Asked Questions

• An emergency department
• An eight bed Intensive Care Unit  / Close Observation Unit 
• Increased access to chemotherapy treatments and renal dialysis
• Surgical and operating theatres, including a day stay surgical unit
• Expanded medical imaging, including MRI service
• Ambulatory care for community and outpatient services
• Paediatric and maternity services, and a special care nursery
• Mental health beds for short term care, and
• Enhanced education and training facilities, including a simulation laboratory.

The Eurobodalla Regional Hospital will be established as a Level 4 health facility.

New services like paediatrics, intensive care, and an MRI will be included in the new hospital, allowing us to provide a higher level of care for our community. 

The new hospital is being designed to address the evolving healthcare requirements of the growing local population, keeping future demand at the forefront. The hospital will elevate healthcare in the Eurobodalla, offering an enhanced level of service beyond the current capabilities of the Moruya and Batemans Bay hospitals.

The development is being supported by a workforce plan, focusing on training, recruitment, and retention strategies to meet the anticipated growth of Eurobodalla Regional Hospital. The new hospital will require time to transition and develop the workforce to align with the new contemporary models of care, the new facility, technology, and ways of working.

Expanding healthcare services to higher levels means more people in the community can access specialised care locally, reducing the need for travel.

New services like paediatrics, intensive care, and an MRI that will be provided at the Eurobodalla Regional Hospital strengthen our local healthcare system, allowing us to provide more advanced care for families, the elderly, and everyone in our community.

This will lead to fewer newborns, infants, and children seeking care elsewhere, more mothers giving birth locally, increased capacity for complex procedures on-site, and improved availability of specialist outpatient services in the Eurobodalla.

The new maternity department at the Eurobodalla Regional Hospital will provide a modern, purpose-built and culturally safe environment to ensure women and families receive a high standard of individualised care for this important part of their parenting journey. All birthing suites will have a bath and will be connected to outdoor spaces on Country with their own private courtyard, providing women with more choice during labour. The maternity department features all single rooms, a dedicated nursery, feeding preparation areas and a family lounge.

Yes, the new ERH is being thoughtfully designed to provide a safe and supportive environment for people with cognitive impairment, including dementia. Here are some key features:

• Adjustable Lighting: Lighting throughout Inpatient Units and patient areas are dimmable.  There are external windows to maximise natural light into patient bedrooms, and activity areas.  Windows have blinds to control natural light as required.
• Enhanced Safety: Each bed will have ready access to data points and power outlets to support the use of safety equipment such as falls alarms.
• Outdoor Access: We are working toward providing safe outdoor access for Inpatient Units. The Intensive Care Unit and the Medical and Surgical wards are located on level 1 and feature a space to access the outdoors. The Rehab and Palliative Care ward is on the ground floor, providing outdoor access specifically designed for those patient groups. Additionally, there are gardens and green spaces incorporated around the site designed to reduce stress and enhance patient recovery.
• Specialised Care: The proposed medical profile includes specialists providing rehabilitation, palliative care, and geriatric expertise, ensuring patients with cognitive impairments can receive appropriate care.
• Patient-Friendly Design: The design of bedrooms and ensuites meets Australian Health Facility Guidelines standards, ensuring optimal accessibility for patients, including the use of contrasting colours and clear signage.
• Quiet Environment: Throughout the facility, we aim to implement nurse call systems that minimise the use of audible buzzers, contributing to a quieter and more peaceful environment.
• Elderly Care in the Emergency Department: The inclusion of a Short Stay Unit will provide options for the safe management of confused elderly patients within the Emergency Department.

These features are part of our commitment to creating a safe, comfortable, and supportive environment for all patients, especially those with cognitive impairments.

Patients in SNSWLHD who may have cancer and who require radiotherapy treatment, can access high-quality, appropriately staffed radiotherapy services at either Canberra or Nowra. Both centres provide existing accommodation facilities for patients who attend from SNSWLHD.

In 2023, The Access to Radiation Therapy Services for Residents of Eurobodalla / Bega Valley LGAs report by Michael Reid and Associates was commissioned by NSW Health to review the viability of radiation therapy services across the Bega Valley and Eurobodalla regions.
 
The report is informing ongoing District planning and negotiations with the Australian Government in relation to the provision of radiation therapy services. A detailed cost estimate will be prepared as part of further planning for a potential radiotherapy service in the Eurobodalla region.
 
SNSWLHD continually monitors the demand for all health services, including radiotherapy services, and aligns future service delivery with best practice guidelines, safety, sustainability and service demand in mind. The new Eurobodalla Regional Hospital Master Plan includes space for the expansion or inclusion of future compatible services.

• The new hospital includes a helipad to transport patients requiring specialist care to hospitals in Sydney and Canberra. A number of locations for the helipad were investigated as part of the Master Planning process, with an area close to the Emergency Department identified as the most suitable. This considered the site’s topography, flood zone, asset protection zones (bushfire), biodiversity zones and cultural heritage areas as well as aviation requirements to ensure safe take-off and landing.

• The hospital site entrance for all public and hospital vehicles, including ambulances will be via the Princes Highway.

• Within the site, there will be separate access to the Emergency Department (ED) to ensure patients requiring emergency care can enter as quickly as possible without having to use the main hospital entrance.

• There will be a secondary access road for emergency vehicles off Caswell Street. This access is planned to be used in the event the Princes Highway is blocked and emergency vehicles are unable to access the hospital main entry (for example a traffic incident). It will not be used for general public or staff access.

• During the hospital construction, and before the new roundabout off the Princes Highway is completed, some preliminary site access routes will be required to support enabling works on site. Planning is under way and residents in the local area will be consulted and informed prior to work commencing.

Southern NSW Local Health District is investigating options with local transport providers to increase support for people to get to and from Eurobodalla Health Services.

SNSWLHD currently partner with a range of organisations such as NSW Ambulance, Patient Transport Services, Eurobodalla Shire Council, and private transport operators to support the community with transport services to health facilities/hospitals.  

More information about transport services will be made available as the project progresses.

Health Infrastructure is working with Transport for NSW to integrate planning of the proposed Moruya bypass and new Eurobodalla Regional Hospital.

The hospital site entrance for all public and hospital vehicles, including ambulances will be via a new roundabout off the Princes Highway.

Southern NSW Local Health District is developing a workforce strategy to attract, recruit and train healthcare professionals in preparation for the new hospital opening.  The new hospital will deliver a range of new and expanded healthcare services in one location which will attract a more specialised workforce to the Eurobodalla.

Recruiting doctors to rural and regional areas is a challenge for all states and territories.  The NSW Government has several initiatives to support development of the rural and regional workforce including scholarships, training programs, opportunities to gain additional skills and networks with metropolitan hospitals and universities.

Twelve new medical leads have recently joined our local team to provide leadership, strategic advice, support collegiality, and clinical excellence across SNSWLHD.

Alongside enhancing its current workforce and medical leadership, SNSWLHD is collaborating with university partners to reinforce both undergraduate and postgraduate education, research initiatives, and supportive professional networks. This strategic effort aims to attract specialised medical officers, nursing professionals, and allied health staff to further strengthen the healthcare team.

The new Eurobodalla Regional Hospital includes improved education and training amenities, featuring a simulation laboratory where staff can actively enhance their skills through hands-on learning experiences.
 

Most of the current workforce at Moruya and Batemans Bay Hospitals who currently live locally are expected to transition to the new hospital.

While additional staff will need to be recruited to support the expanded role of the new Eurobodalla Regional Hospital, these staff are likely to be accommodated throughout the Eurobodalla Shire, including Moruya, Batemans Bay, and Narooma.

Southern NSW Local Health District is reviewing a range of options to support accommodation for new and short-term health workers.

More information about workforce accommodation will be made available as the project progresses.
 

In the 2024-25 NSW Budget the NSW Government committed an additional $200.1 million to deliver accommodation for health workers across rural and regional areas.

The Government is prioritising housing options in areas that most need to attract workers and deliver healthcare accessibility. Early assessment has identified a number of possible future locations for health worker accommodation including the Eurobodalla.

NSW Health will work with key agencies to understand accommodation requirements and support as required.

The Carers Accommodation Eurobodalla Regional Hospital (CAERH) community group are currently raising funds to support the planning, design, construction and fit out of carers accommodation at the new Eurobodalla Regional Hospital. 

The site masterplan includes opportunities for locating the proposed carers accommodation. For more information including how to donate or get involved go to the website www.caerh.org or contact Steph Carter, Secretary on secretary@caerh.org

Health Infrastructure will work closely with the construction contractor when appointed to accommodate the new Eurobodalla Regional Hospital construction workforce.

A range of initiatives will be considered including:

• Using existing relationships with local subcontractors and supply chains, within both NSW and the ACT.
• Maximising local workforce initiatives, including through local employment services network, government agencies, training services, local area training organisations including TAFE NSW, and locally based subcontractors
• The use of subcontractors who have regional departments and local resources
• Ensuring all subcontractors are aware of the limited available rented accommodation and expanding accommodation options to broader areas (i.e., within a 1-hour travel time from the site).

Access for all construction workers will be from the Princes Highway. Construction workers will be instructed to park on the hospital site and avoid parking on local roads.

We are committed to minimising disruption to the local community and all our neighbours during construction and maintaining the safety of all those who engage with our site is our number one priority.

We will continue to consult with the community as the project progresses to reduce the impact of construction on our neighbours.

The new Eurobodalla Regional Hospital will contribute to improved environmental sustainability through a more efficient use of resources, increased environmental standard adherence, the deliberate and effective use of facilities.

The new facility aims to deliver industry leading environmentally sustainable development elements including key initiatives to support and deliver climate change adaptation measures which lower on-going emissions and contribute to NSW Government emissions targets.
 
The design and sustainability features of the new hospital include:

• Orientation: designed to improve solar access to key areas within the hospital, capture prevailing winds for suitable crossflow ventilation
• Use of natural and recycled materials: local materials will be selected to reduce manufacturing of new products and reduce waste
• Native vegetation: use of native vegetation which will support Connecting with Country principles to deliver a healing environment, improve local biodiversity, and lower water usage
• Gardens and green spaces: encourage therapeutic environments to reduce stress and enhance patient recovery
• Energy: solar panels and energy efficient fittings and fixtures installed
• Lighting: energy efficient LED and sensory lighting installed to lower energy usage and emissions
• Energy efficient window design: improve access to natural light, reduce artificial lighting and enhance thermal performance
• Rainwater harvesting: capture to use in the hospital gardens and green spaces
• Charging stations: enable the installation of electric vehicle charging infrastructure and stations
• Sustainable transport facilities: adapt hospital fleet vehicles to electric vehicles and develop a local public transport strategy initiative for visitors and staff

The NSW Government has committed $20 million to deliver a modern, integrated, and convenient health service for the Batemans Bay community.

OVERVIEW

Batemans Bay Community Health is being designed to meet the healthcare needs of the local community and provide improved local access to a range of services such as:

• Allied Health
• Child, Youth and Family Services
• Women’s Health
• Sexual Health
• Community nursing, wound management
• Palliative care
• Aboriginal Health
• Community Mental Health and Drug & Alcohol
• Specialist Outpatient Clinics
• Pathology

Batemans Bay Community Health will: 

• Provide a sustainable, purpose-built community health service for the Batemans Bay and surrounding community.
• Work together with the new Eurobodalla Regional Hospital, to ensure the community has access to the right health care in the right setting.
• Use the latest technology and models of care to deliver patient-centred health services close to home.

Batemans Bay Hospital including the Emergency Department will continue to provide healthcare services for the community while the new Eurobodalla Regional Hospital and Batemans Bay Community Health are built.

Batemans Bay Hospital (and Moruya Hospital) will continue to provide healthcare services, including emergency services, for the community while we build the new community health service and Eurobodalla Regional Hospital.

Hospital services from Batemans Bay and Moruya Hospital will transition to the new Eurobodalla Regional Hospital once the new hospital is ready to commence operations.  

The Eurobodalla Health Service is being enhanced to provide a higher level of care and keep people closer to home.

Urgent and Emergency Care will be provided from

• Expanded Emergency Department at the new Eurobodalla Regional Hospital supported by an intensive care unit, diagnostic services, and theatres.
• Urgent Care Centre at Batemans Bay for urgent treatment of minor injury and illness
• NSW Ambulance - Eurobodalla Health Services is working in partnership with NSW Ambulance to support the healthcare needs of the entire Eurobodalla Shire community from Narooma to Batemans Bay in preparation for the transition of emergency services to the new Eurobodalla Regional Hospital.

The new Batemans Bay Community Health and the Medicare Urgent Care Clinic will continue to operate on the site of the Batemans Bay Hospital once hospital services transition to the new Eurobodalla Regional Hospital.

Plans for the remaining part of Batemans Bay Hospital site, which is owned by the NSW Government, are yet to be determined.

How do NSW Ambulance manage transfers between Batemans Bay and Moruya during times of high traffic and the busy holiday season? 

Paramedics are a mobile workforce and respond from one patient to the next across locations, regardless of whether they are located at a hospital, an ambulance station or another location. 

During periods of higher demand NSW Ambulance can fluidly deploy resources to where they are needed most, helping deliver the best possible out-of-hospital care for the community. 

How will NSW Ambulance ensure there are enough ambulances available to transfer people from Batemans Bay and surrounds to the new Eurobodalla Regional Hospital?  

Requests for ambulances are triaged according to urgency and clinical need to ensure the most appropriate response to all patients. 

NSW Ambulance Emergency Medical Call Takers (EMCT) follow internationally recognised and evidence-based predetermined scripts to determine the priority of each incident, based on the patient’s presenting symptoms. This allows NSW Ambulance to determine an appropriate response. 

Where an ambulance isn’t required immediately, experienced clinicians from the NSW Ambulance Virtual Clinical Care Centre (VCCC), provide comprehensive and integrated secondary triage to better understand the needs of the patient. 

For patients who don’t require an ambulance to attend to them and can be managed safely at home, the VCCC also provides alternate referral services such as referral to a General Practitioner, Pharmacist, or other health care provider. 

This allows NSW Ambulance to ensure the right patient receives the right care in the right place at the right time by the right care provider. 

Virtual care by VCCC clinicians ensures that patients with lower critical care needs who can safely remain in the community do so, thereby keeping frontline paramedics for life-threatening emergencies. 

Will NSW Ambulance be recruiting more paramedics / ambulances? 

NSW Ambulance applies a Clinical Capability Assessment as well as a service planning methodology to determine the placement of clinical resources within geographical areas. This methodology considers patient safety and the volume and mix of services required when determining clinical service levels. 

NSW Ambulance conducts regular analysis of all locations within NSW to identify areas of growing demand for prioritisation of resources. This includes the use of best practice modelling software which maps Triple Zero (000) calls to determine the most suitable location for emergency care, including examination of current response areas and modelling of potential station locations to best meet patient need. 

What is NSW Ambulance process to triage/ care for people in life threatening conditions? 

Requests for ambulances are triaged according to urgency and clinical need to ensure the most appropriate response to all patients.   

NSW Ambulance Emergency Medical Call Takers follow internationally recognised and evidence-based predetermined scripts to determine the location of an incident and the priority of each incident, based on the patient’s presenting symptoms. 

NSW Ambulance uses the Medical Prioritisation Dispatch System (MPDS) to assist in triaging Triple Zero (000) calls from the community. Emergency medical call takers use a primary triage process that complies with international standards.