Bateau Bay paramedics get new "ruggedized" smartphones

Central Coast paramedics will be testing out ruggedised smart phones, under a new state government trial.

NSW Health Minister Brad Hazzard was in Bateau Bay this morning, to announce the suburb's ambulance station is one of three locations to use the equipment - Batemans Bay and Dubbo being the other two.

200 ambulances statewide will be kitted out with the shock-proof, waterproof and dust-resistant devices, which have reception irrespective of harsh weather conditions too.

Meantime, Mr Hazzard also turned the sod for construction to start up on Wyong Hospital's new carpark. It's part of the overall $220 million upgrade of the Hospital.

“The NSW Government is delivering on its election commitment for a first-class Wyong Hospital, which will future-proof health services for the growing region,” Mr Hazzard said.

“This $200 million redevelopment – which includes a new emergency department and expanded maternity, intensive care and paediatric services – is part of the NSW Government’s total $600 million investment in health services for the Central Coast.”

The single-level car park will replace the existing visitor car park, which will then become the location for the new hospital building.

By 2026, the Wyong region’s population is expected to grow by 13.9 per cent to 188,040, more than twice the rate of Gosford.

The redevelopment will include:

·         New emergency department

·         New intensive care unit

·         New paediatric assessment unit

·         Additional inpatient units

·         Expanded surgical services, including additional operating theatre capacity

·         Increased maternity services.

The car park is due for completion by the end of this year, when main works will begin.

The Wyong Hospital redevelopment is on top of the $348 million Gosford Hospital redevelopment to be completed this year, $20 million for the University of Newcastle’s medical school at Gosford and $35.5 million for the Gosford Hospital car park.