Message from the board chair Trevor Danos AM
I am pleased to advise the Board has endorsed the RNSH Campus Master Plan 2023 which will now be the key document for all future planning for the RNSH campus. This follows four months of intense work and consultation and builds on the NSLHD 2022-2027 Strategic Plan and the St Leonards Health, Research and Education Precinct Plan. The RNSH 2023 Master Plan was developed in accordance with the capital planning process requirements mandated by the NSW Ministry of Health and Health Infrastructure. Early in the process, a set of Guiding Principles was prepared that focused on future-proofing the RNSH campus, increasing clinical services, improving patient and staff access from the train station, adopting best practice sustainability and increasing green spaces. Throughout the four-month consultation period, the district has benefited from expert input from architects Fitzpatrick + Partners and from Health Infrastructure. A RNSH Campus Master Plan Advisory Group was established and met regularly with a broad membership delivering valuable and extensive input. There was also extensive stakeholder engagement with more than 20 sessions with various clinical and non-clinical groups both as open forums and separate vision workshops. Recently there have been two town hall meetings and multiple sets of questions and answers (Q&As) and FAQs have been published. The Board was satisfied that a very comprehensive and professional process of engagement had been undertaken during the development of the RNSH Campus Master Plan 2023 and that a new plan was needed to replace earlier master plans to guide the long-term delivery of health services at RNSH. A summary of the RNSH Campus Master Plan 2023 has been prepared and can be found on the intranet along with other background information. The Board was guided by the best interests of RNSH to be able to provide world-class health and research facilities that respond to the needs of the community and the people across the State, focused on patient and staff wellbeing while promoting a healing environment and a sense of place in the community. Other relevant considerations included projected population growth, community health trends, the role of other district hospitals in supporting the mission of RNSH, the increasing role of virtual care and the importance of our university and industry partnerships. The RNSH 2023 Master Plan has a 40-year time horizon. It evidences an exciting vision and a bright future for the RNSH campus. It is very clear about the potential to significantly expand clinical and non- clinical services on the RNSH campus. Its purpose is to communicate to our staff, to government and to the
community that we are thinking about and planning for a long and successful future for RNSH.
Whilst this document is a futuristic high-level document without any current financial or capital commitments the task now for the Board and the Chief Executive is to identify the immediate clinical and non-clinical needs of the RNSH campus. Some of these needs are obvious such as increasing the size of our acute bed base, optimised ambulatory care space, better loading docks, storage space for recycling, a clinical trials centre, improved and increased conference rooms, more carer accommodation, and improved parking and other transport options. A further process of consultation and discussion will shortly commence on the immediate needs of the RNSH campus to make the case for possible government funding. Finally, there have been some misconceptions and misunderstandings associated with the RNSH 2023 Master Plan that I would like to address. The vacant land adjoining the Ministry of Health building, known as Lot 4b, is not owned by NSW Health. It is owned by Property and Development NSW (PDNSW). The RNSH Campus Master Plan 2023 does not include Lot 4b because it is not land owned or controlled by NSW Health.
The government has previously announced it wishes to put affordable and key worker housing on Lot 4b.
NSLHD is continuing to work closely with PDNSW to ensure the district’s interests are appropriately considered in any development of Lot 4b and having a current and living master plan is part of that process.
There is absolutely no plan to sell or divest hospital land or to privatise the RNSH campus.
Whilst the Master Plan cannot foresee what will happen in the next 40 years it does demonstrate the commitment to the ongoing sustainability of RNSH to ensure it maintains its reputation as a world-class hospital of high standing with strong and proud history in education, research and provision of high- quality clinical care. I would like extend my gratitude and commendation to the many clinical and non-clinical staff who have contributed to the development of the RNSH Campus Master Plan 2023 that we proudly present to you today. Trevor Danos AM Board Chair Northern Sydney Local Health District
NSLHDNEWS | ISSUE 21|10 NOVEMBER 2023
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