VIDEO: BEHIND THE SCENES, John Hunter Hospital $835 Million Transformation Reaches Highest Point

13 March 2025

newy.com.au – A significant milestone has been reached in the $835 million redevelopment of the John Hunter Health and Innovation Precinct. The hospital’s new seven-storey acute services building now at its highest construction point. This progress comes alongside two other major developments at John Hunter Hospital: the successful completion of Safe Staffing Level recruitment for the emergency department and the introduction of a body-worn camera trial for security staff.

The redevelopment, set for completion in 2026, is a major investment in healthcare for Newcastle, the broader Hunter region, and northern NSW. The new acute services building will bring a 60 per cent increase in intensive care unit (ICU) capacity and almost 50 per cent more operating theatres to meet growing demand. The upgraded facilities will include a new emergency department designed to handle more than 95,000 presentations annually, 22 operating theatres, nine interventional suites, expanded maternity services with birthing suites, an inpatient maternity unit, neonatal ICU and a special care nursery. A rooftop helipad will assist with critical care transfers, while 900 additional car spaces will be provided for staff, patients, and visitors.

John Hunter Hospital has now successfully recruited approximately 48 full-time equivalent nurses to meet NSW Health’s Safe Staffing Level requirements in the emergency department. It is the latest hospital in the state to achieve this important workforce milestone.

In a move aimed at improving safety for healthcare staff, patients, and visitors, John Hunter Hospital will begin trialling body-worn cameras for security staff from 17 March 2025. The 12-month pilot, introduced by the Minns Labor Government, has already been rolled out at five hospitals across NSW, beginning with Royal North Shore Hospital in December 2024. The trial will assess whether the cameras help deter and de-escalate violent incidents in healthcare settings, with an independent review to follow.

NSW Minister for Regional Health, Ryan Park, said the government is committed to supporting essential healthcare workers and ensuring the safety of staff and patients. Minister for the Hunter, Yasmin Catley, highlighted the importance of the upgrade in meeting the growing demand for healthcare as the region continues to expand. Local MPs Sonia Hornery, Jodie Harrison, Tim Crakanthorp, Jenny Aitchison, Kate Washington, and Greg Piper all welcomed the milestone, emphasising the positive impact on healthcare services, employment, and the broader community.

The hospital redevelopment is not only an investment in healthcare but also in the local economy. The project is creating 1,500 jobs in the Hunter, with more than 70 trades involved and an average of 700 workers on-site each day. With construction progressing rapidly, the completion of the John Hunter Health and Innovation Precinct in 2026 will mark a significant step forward in delivering world-class medical facilities to Newcastle and the wider Hunter region.