PROJECT NEWSLETTER August 2015

The Main Works progressed well during the month of July, with major mechanical chillers and air handlers arriving on site and being installed.

The structural steel erection on all three sections of the building is now complete, with roofing and guttering due for completion on Mental Health in August.

External Cladding is progressing well with the majority of cladding also to be completed this month. Feature cladding substrates will progress during August, with final timber tile and alpolic composite materials planned for installation in September.

ED / Inpatient Ward / Non Clinical - The internal fit-out of the lower ground floor is progressing well, with wall linings and ceilings nearing completion in the majority of rooms. Tiling and vinyl to rooms are advancing well throughout the lower ground floor.

Ground floor inpatient unit and ED partitioning and services rough is nearing completion. Tiling and vinyl works are well advanced. The prototype room in the inpatient ward is progressing well and a completed room is expected over the next reporting period.

Ambulatory Care - High level services fit out is well under way, with main services complete. The internal wall framing and wall linings are progressing well. Windows are well advanced and the building is substantially watertight. Louvres are expected in August to seal plant room areas Mental Health Sub-Acute Unit - Roof cladding and guttering is nearing completion, with the southern entry and window installation to be completed this month. Internal partitions have commenced. Tank Farm – Installation of structural steel is complete, and roofing got underway in late July, with cladding completed early August. The tank farm tanks have been delivered, with installation also well under way. Filling of the tanks for testing purposes has now commenced.

Photos: Left top - eastern façade of building 1; below -

all goes according to plan. Above: northern façade of

building 1.

Further good progress through winter months

PROJECT NEWSLETTER August 2015

John Purssey seems the ideal choice to steer the

establishment of a Multifaith space at the new

Byron Central Hospital, yet he can’t believe he

was chosen for the job, one that he performs on

a pro bono basis.

Now living in Byron Shire, John was born in

England where he completed a degree in

theology - not for clergy training, he explains -

and has travelled extensively throughout the

Judeo-Christian-Islamic world, as well as in the

Hindu and Buddhist cultures of Asia.

Among many memorable experiences was

visiting the giant Buddha carvings in the cliffs of

Bamayan, Afghanistan before the Taliban blew

them to pieces.

With a science degree also under his belt, he is

an IT expert, specialising in document

management, and volunteers further time as a

radio operator for the Marine Reserve in

Brunswick Heads.

The stained glass panel, currently at Byron

District Hospital, that will be made a feature of

the Multifaith space at the new hospital.

He is their chaplain as well as liaising with the

leaders of local churches when formal needs

arise.

Currently, and until the new hospital opens

around April 2016, he has his head and his heart

engaged in helping design a restful, welcoming

space for patients, family and friends, and

hospital staff, many of whom face challenging

personal experiences.

John says he has visited multifaith spaces in

other facilities, such as PA and the Charles in

Brisbane, and Caloundra. Working with the

project team, John is developing a concept that

will make people of any faith, or none, including

Aboriginal people, feel comfortable.

“There will be furniture, but the floors will also

have rugs where people can sit,” he explains.

“Encouraging informality is important. The entry

door will be set back from the corridor for privacy,

with a threshold area that includes water for

people who want to purify, as well as an ante-

room for depositing shoes.

“Instead of traditional religious symbols, we will

have a nature theme, including the installation of

the lovely stained glass panel with the marine

images, currently in Byron District Hospital.”

Creating a heart for the hospital

PROJECT NEWSLETTER August 2015

The Multifaith space takes shape. The stained glass

panel will be positioned on this wall space.

John completed a year’s training at the Multifaith

Academy for Chaplaincy in Brisbane, which

describes itself as being “committed to the

training and spiritual formation of students

nominated by Christian Churches and other Faith

organisations to operate as Chaplains and

spiritual carers in institutional settings and the

community in the spirit of ecumenism, having an

understanding and respect for all faith groups,

underpinned by the values of respect, justice,

love and compassion.”

This was followed by a one-year chaplaincy

placement at The Tweed Hospital.

FAQs about the new hospital

There has been widespread consultation and

discussion with staff and the community about the

planning design of the new Byron Central

Hospital. However, a number of matters of

interest continue to be raised about key aspects

of the project.

This interest is welcome, as it shows a high level

of engagement, especially by the many staff

members whose workplace will change both

geographically and functionally from June 2016,

when the new hospital begins operating. There

will also be earlier changes as services are

progressively established at the Ewingsdale site.

Answers to some of the key questions are

provided below.

Timetable for construction and relocation

Despite considerable rain this year, construction

work has progressed very well, and is on track for

completion in March 2016. This is a testament to

the whole project team, and the skills of the

construction company, Brookfield Multiplex, and

project manager, Savills Australia.

The final fit-out and external landscaping will be

undertaken in early 2016, with the new hospital

scheduled for LHD operational commissioning

between March-June 2016.

The NNSWLHD will work through a strategy for

move logistics which will be underpinned by the

priorities of patient safety.

Timetable for closing the existing hospitals in

Byron Bay and Mullumbimby

The two Byron Shire hospitals will be closed when

Byron Central Hospital is ready for occupancy.

Mullumbimby will be dismantled and the site

cleared. Community input will also be sought

regarding the future of the Mullumbimby site.

Byron District Hospital will be cleared out, and

sold.

PROJECT NEWSLETTER August 2015

Job security for current staff

Workforce planning has commenced and is currently underway. This is expected to take a few months to finalise, and includes consultations with relevant stakeholders during the process.

Review of existing position descriptions will be matched with expected functioning of the new Hospital. Some areas are an expanded service, and this will be taken into account.

Staff employment will adhere to relevant policies and legislation.

Parking & access

BCH will have 195 Parking bays, 28 bicycle

spaces, and 16 motorcycle spaces. A roundabout

will be constructed on Ewingsdale Road, to the

west of the site (between the hospital and the

highway) enabling quick and safe access for staff,

day-only patients, visitors and deliveries.

Imaging equipment

It has been reported that an MRI machine will be

installed. This is incorrect, however a state of the

art 128 slice CT scanner will be a major

component of the hospital’s imaging equipment

as well as General X-Ray, Ultrasound and OPG.

Will there be surgical services?

Following an EOI process that indicated

satisfactory interest from private providers NSW

Health Infrastructure is conducting a tender

process to engage the private sector in potentially

providing day surgery for both public and private

patients in the Shire. If successful, this model

would provide surgical services, similar to those

operating successfully in other areas of NSW.

The tender process will be carried out over the

coming months.