It is interesting to reflect on the development of public hospitals in Orange.
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- 1869: opening of the first hospital. Three wards with four beds each.
- 1933: Opening of Base Hospital, after 63 years.
- 1970: Opening of four storey addition, after 37 years.
- 2011: Opening of new general hospital at Bloomfield, after 41 years.
It follows then that a new public general hospital will be needed in Orange after about 40 years, which would be around the year 2051.
However, given the rapid population growth and the increase in the percentage of elderly residents it is reasonable to assume this may well occur by about 2045.
The planning, applying for finance and then construction of a major hospital takes about 10 years. This planning should therefore commence in 2035, to have a hospital ready by 2045.
By then the new sporting precinct will be operational.
There will not be sufficient land left at Bloomfield to build an accessible modern hospital.
There will be a need to purchase land elsewhere, which will add considerably to the cost as well as removing the convenience of co-location with other services for both patients and staff.
It is to be hoped that existing councillors do not, in later years, need to travel to multiple sites around the city to receive medical care.
Jann Hunt, Former Director Medical Services Orange
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