Thank you to the community members and Blacktown Hospital staff who joined the project team on Thursday, 14 August at Blacktown Hospital to learn more about the additional planned beds at Blacktown Hospital.

The session, held from 11am to 1pm, was an opportunity for the project team to hear directly from the people who know the hospital best – patients, carers and consumers.

We heard strong support for boosting capacity at Blacktown Hospital and the modern, fit-for-purpose additional beds, particularly the inclusion of spaces within the new rooms to accommodate the needs of elderly patients and families visiting patients.

We heard support for the planned expansion of Mount Druitt Hospital, which will also receive an additional 30 beds, a significant boost for this hospital. The new hospital being planned for Rouse Hill, which will serve the northern section of Western Sydney Local Health District, north of Blacktown and into the Hills District, was also a feature of many conversations. Many recognised the increasing demand on health services in Western Sydney and that these projects are a positive step toward easing pressure on the network.

Staff raised thoughtful questions about future staffing and workforce planning - important considerations being actively factored into infrastructure and service planning. There was also a desire to see continued investment into health infrastructure across western Sydney and beyond.

We’re grateful to everyone who attended and shared their insights. Your feedback is helping shape the future of Blacktown and Mount Druitt Hospitals, and we look forward to continuing the conversation as planning progresses.