The Sutherland Shire now has a new $7 million MRI facility close to home, as part of the NSW Liberal and National Government’s $88.5 million boost to Sutherland Hospital’s new Operating Theatre Complex.
Premier Dominic Perrottet, Health Minister Brad Hazzard, Member for Miranda Eleni Petinos, Member for Cronulla Mark Speakman and Member for Heathcote Lee Evans announced the official opening of the new MRI facility.
“For the first time in the history of Sutherland Hospital patients will be able to access an MRI on site providing physicians and patients with immediate access to an additional state-of-the-art diagnostic tool,” Mr Perrottet said.
“This crucial new MRI facility in the heart of the Sutherland Shire community will enhance patients’ access to first-class, quality healthcare without the need to travel out of Sutherland.
“This significant investment has only been possible because the NSW Liberal and Nationals Government have a long-term economic plan allowing us to deliver world-class health services and facilities to communities across the state.”
Minister Hazzard said the launch of the MRI service is in addition to the $62.9 million redevelopment of Sutherland Hospital, part of the NSW Government’s $160 million investment in health services for the Sutherland community.
“This MRI service is a very significant upgrade being delivered as part of Sutherland Hospital’s new Operating Theatre Complex, which will also provide new operating theatres, procedure rooms, surgical short stay facilities, recovery areas, a sterilising department and more,” Mr Hazzard said.
“Having an MRI service on campus delivering faster care to the vast majority of our inpatients who will no longer have to be transferred to St George Hospital or private providers for their scans comes on the back of strong advocacy of local MPs and the community.”
Member for Miranda Eleni Petinos said the launch of the new MRI service was a fantastic win for the Sutherland Shire community and would help improve health outcomes in the region.
“Being able to have these important health scans done closer to home will really help everyone in the community put their health needs first as they manage competing priorities in their busy lives,” Ms Petinos said.
“The benefit to the community of not having to travel to access a service that plays such a crucial role in investigations, diagnosis and treatment cannot be underestimated.”
Member for Cronulla Mark Speakman said the NSW Government had responded to local residents who had campaigned to secure an MRI service for Sutherland Hospital, which marks its 65th anniversary in 2023.
“The Sutherland Shire community has called for a local MRI service and the NSW Liberal and Nationals Government has listened and delivered a $7 million MRI service to the community to improve health outcomes now and into the future,” Mr Speakman said.
Member for Heathcote Lee Evans said the community played a critical role in ensuring an MRI service was provided in the Sutherland Shire.
“We are grateful to the community as well as staff and residents who volunteered their time and efforts to help make this outcome a reality,” Mr Evans said.
Construction of the Operating Theatre Complex is expected to be completed in late 2023. This includes eight operating theatres, two procedure rooms, recovery facilities and a sterilising department.
The Sutherland Hospital Redevelopment is part of the NSW Government’s record $11.9 billion investment in health infrastructure over four years to 2025-26.
Since 2011 the NSW Liberal and Nationals Government has delivered more than 180 health capital works projects across NSW, with more than 130 currently underway. The government will be investing $3 billion this financial year (2022-23) to build and redevelop hospital facilities across NSW.
