First look inside Cowra Hospital

An innovative prototype room of the new and enhanced inpatient rooms to be delivered as part of the $110.2 million Cowra Hospital Redevelopment has been unveiled, which is giving staff a hands-on opportunity to test out its features. Pauline Rowston, health services manager for Cowra and Grenfell said "So the purpose of this room is to give staff an opportunity to have a look around the building, and gives us an idea of size and space." she said, adding that feedback from staff had been positive "Just being able to see the prototype room gives us a true understanding, moving it from the dimension, a two dimensional image on a piece of paper into the real life image." Although only showing one room, the demonstrator room allowed staff to see firsthand the features typical to the new hospital, Ms Rowston said the example of the inpatient facilities shows a glimpse of "an ensuite bathroom, the planned colour scheme, and equipment staff will use when the redevelopment is complete, the prototype room lets staff experience the design, technology and functionality of the new hospital spaces, as construction for the project continues." Once complete, the redevelopment will include a mix of single and double inpatient rooms, including multiple single rooms with access to a balcony. All inpatient rooms will have ensuite bathrooms, as well as a lounge area for families and carers. Duty MLC Stephen Lawrence said “It’s great to see local staff and clinicians having the opportunity to test out and provide feedback on the enhanced inpatient rooms planned for the redevelopment. The Cowra Hospital redevelopment will feature enhanced facilities that will significantly improve care and better support staff, patients and the community." The $110.2 million Cowra Hospital Redevelopment has been shaped by feedback from staff and the community throughout planning and design phase which has led to improved access, more onsite parking, new landscaped areas, and larger windows. Health services are continuing to operate during construction, with the new hospital on track for completion at the end of 2025. Construction on the Cowra Hospital is well under way with work for the facade, internal fit out, and landscaping progressing. Minister for Regional Health, Ryan Park said “Our rural and regional communities, including the community of Cowra, deserve purpose-built and modern facilities to meet their present and future health needs. The feedback from the staff tours of the prototype room has already been extremely positive. The hospital has been designed in close collaboration with the community to create a welcoming and supportive environment for patients, visitors, and staff.” Jacqui Harvey, an occupational therapist at Cowra said it was a great opportunity to see the floor plans turned into a reality, "It really just increases the ability for patients to have greater independence," she said. "It makes it safer for staff to attend to their clinical duties and it's just all around a really positive experience. The beds are a fantastic thing to be able to see, we can see the differences between the high and low versus a baratriuc bed, we can see how the bariatric equipment sits in these rooms." The hospital is due to open later this year.