The first stage in the redevelopment is clinical services planning. The Cowra Hospital Clinical Services Plan (CSP) is prepared by Western NSW Local Health District, and it helps determine what types of solutions, including capital and non-capital, may be applied to meet the current and future health care needs.

The CSP was endorsed by the Ministry of Health in May 2021.

The Lead Consultant Team undertook master planning between July 2021 and Early 2022.

The master plan is a map showing how key clinical connections and requirements identified in the CSP can be supported with infrastructure and how this can be located and support existing services such as transport and utilities.

The master plan will consider the capacity to expand if needed as demand for services changes.

The master plan will be used to develop a concept design. Community feedback on the master plan will be incorporated into the concept design.

The first step of the design phase the development of a concept design allowing for the hospital plan to be brought to life. 

The concept design is a ‘high-level’ design which shoes the shows the relationships between the clinical functions, services and other facilities.

The new $110.2 million Cowra Hospital will deliver a new health service with high-quality, contemporary and accessible care. It will feature upgraded inpatient beds, modern facilities and the hospital’s first CT scanner. The hospital will deliver:

•           An emergency department,
•           A general medical and surgery inpatient ward,
•           A peri-operative service (a range of surgical procedures),
•           A maternity unit with a dedicated nursery,
•           Ambulatory care (services for outpatients),
•           Oral health (dental clinic),
•           Renal dialysis (dialysis treatment for outpatients),
•           Oncology (chemotherapy treatments),
•           Community Health and Mental Health, Drug and Alcohol services,
•           Tresillian inpatient beds for new mothers and their babies, and
•           A CT Scanner and an Ultrasound

All key clinical services will be delivered under one roof in a new, purpose designed building to support contemporary models of care.

The facility will be designed with the capacity to grow as demand for services changes and a building structure that supports staged expansion into the future.

Health Infrastructure and Western NSW Local Health District have worked together with the Cowra Hospital Memorial Rose Garden Committee to relocate and preserve the hospital’s historic roses. The roses and plaques have been temporarily relocated to the Cowra Cemetery. Once construction is complete, the roses will be incorporated into the landscaping at the new hospital in a way that reflects the significance of the roses for the families of loved ones and the local community.

As the project progresses, a community working group will be established to identify which of the many existing artworks, photographs and plaques will be transferred and on display in the new hospital.

Project User Groups (PUGs), comprising clinical and non-clinical staff and other stakeholders, have been established for the services and/or departments within the project.

Throughout the planning process, the project team is working with over 13 PUGs. This will continue during the design phase of the project. Participation from user groups is important in the development of the design to ensure staff, patients and community representatives have input into the infrastructure.

Community consultation will take place at the various stages of planning and design, including the master plan, concept design, schematic design and statutory planning approvals. To date 12 community information sessions have been held for the community to learn about the planning process as well as provide feedback to inform the master plan.

These have been face to face and online to ensure there is wide ranging engagement with the community, staff and stakeholders.