THE number of hospital beds in Mudgee could more than double amid the growing coronavirus pandemic, NSW Health Minister Brad Hazzard has said.
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Mudgee's hospitals will be among a number across the state that have potential for their services to be boosted to treat people with COVID-19.
On Friday, Mr Hazzard said Mudgee's new hospital would operate concurrently with the old hospital.
"They have 23 beds in the existing Mudgee Hospital, but there will be 28 new beds in the new hospital, so that will take it to 51 beds," Mr Hazzard said.
The Mudgee Guardian understands that, more specifically, the old hospital could stay open if it is needed. The Mudgee Guardian also clarified that the old hospital would not be a 'spillover' for Sydney and other metro hospitals unable to cope with a hypothetical spike in active COVID-19 cases.
While in Dubbo, a major redevelopment already underway at Dubbo Hospital was planned to bring more ICU beds in 6-12 months.
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However, this would now be hastened due to COVID-19 with 20 new ICU beds to be added, bringing the hospital's total to 32.
However, a statement released by Western NSW Local Health District (LHD) on Friday afternoon has further clarified the increased services at Dubbo Hospital.
"The early commissioning of beds in late June will mean that we have bed spaces available across both the old and new parts of the hospital if needed, including up to 18 ventilated beds," LHD chief executive Scott McLachlan said.
"The district normally has 11 ventilated in the base hospitals at Bathurst, Orange and Dubbo. We're in process of more than tripling that number to 48.
"These ventilated beds are critical for people who become very sick with COVID-19."
Mr McLachlan said the new Mudgee Hospital will be commissioned in mid-May.
He said all hospitals in the region had a role to play if there was a dramatic escalation in demand as a result of COVID-19.
"Our plans will look to ensure that vulnerable patients, and especially the aged care residents we have in many of our facilities, are protected as much as possible," Mr McLachlan said.
"We will need to constantly review and configure our services to make sure that patients and residents, both those with COVID-19 as well as other patients, are cared for in the most appropriate setting."
Mr McLachlan said it was important to note, as international experience has shown, that around 80 per cent of people who contract the COVID-19 virus will likely have mild illness and be able to self-isolate at home without any need for hospitalisation.