Rodney Stevens

Clarence Valley residents will benefit from an increased level of health and aged care in the Northern Rivers with the news a new private hospital will be built in the region.

The Catholic Diocese of Lismore has announced a new private hospital will be built at Lismore and the existing St Vincents private hospital will be transformed into an aged care facility.

As part of its vision to ensure the Northern Rivers and surrounding communities continue to be provided with high quality health care, the Diocese of Lismore announced the plans on Tuesday, August 29, for the new private hospital to be built in the Uralba Street health precinct.

Diocesan Business Manager for the Diocese of Lismore, Greg Isaac said the construction of the new private hospital would see the 102-year legacy of St Vincents hospital continue.

“Our vision is to see a new private hospital created, surrounded by a thriving community of healthcare professionals providing cutting-edge specialist medical services,” he said.

“Since 1921 St Vincent’s Lismore has had a clear purpose to provide healthcare for the community in faith, hope and charity with compassion and respect.

“The plan we announced today will see the legacy of St Vincents Lismore continue long into the future.

“It is our unique history as a cornerstone of the community that has inspired us to think beyond the present day about how the growing and changing needs of our community will be best met for the next hundred years.”

The new hospital is proposed to be built on the corner of Uralba Street and Dibbs Street, next to the car park opposite Lismore Base Hospital.

The Diocese was unable to provide a timeline of when the community can expect the new hospital will be operational.

The new private hospital will facilitate the provision of expanded private health service opportunities and consolidate existing services provided currently at St Vincents hospital on Dalley Street.

“What we know is that innovative developments, like the one we have announced, will attract additional highly skilled specialists and create more, not less opportunities for medical and health care professionals already working in the Northern Rivers region,” Mr Isaac said.

The Diocese has purchased land on Uralba Street opposite the Base Hospital for the construction of the private hospital, but Mr Isaac said the Diocese won’t develop or run the proposed facility.

The Diocese said the new hospital will be funded and operated using a contemporary model by a specialist hospital provider.

A competitive process will now be undertaken by the Diocese to secure a specialist provider to operate its acute health services moving forward.

When the new hospital opens, the Diocese plans to invest in facilities and services at the current St Vincents site on Dalley Street to transform it into an aged care centre of excellence for the region.

“The Diocese believes the specialised delivery and operating model for the new hospital, together with the Diocese’s vision for the future of St Vincent’s Lismore’s existing site, will take health and aged care in the Northern Rivers to a new level, and deliver even higher quality, patient centred care, which is central to the values of the Diocese,” Mr Isaac said.

“We’re at the beginning of an exciting journey and look forward to our patients, staff, volunteers, health professionals and communities joining us to achieve the best outcome for all.”