Moving day next step for aged care upgrade

Westmead Hospital’s geriatrics unit has moved to a new home to make way for a planned refurbishment which will include a new behavioural management unit. 

The corridor on level four was abuzz recently as staff from the geriatrics unit, movers Allied Pickfords, orderlies and the Westmead Redevelopment project team relocated patients, equipment and supplies.

The work is part of stage 2 of the Westmead Hospital refurbishment program.

Westmead Redevelopment project co-ordinator Sacha Mott said the extensive collaboration and planning has paid off.

“We’d like to thank everyone involved in the move … it was a huge couple of days,” she said

Westmead Hospital geriatrics unit nursing unit manager Juli Thwaite said the team is now looking forward to settling into their new home.

“We couldn’t have done it without everyone pitching in,” she said. 

The space vacated by the geriatrics unit in D4c will be refurbished and expanded.

The unit will provide a safe space for patients with behavioural disturbances, delirium and dementia and will include a sensory room, large patient and family lounge and an outdoor courtyard.

Construction will start soon and is expected to be completed in 2019.

The refurbishment program is transforming more than 30 per cent of Westmead Hospital’s clinical areas between 2017 and 2022.