Gosford Hospital emergency department expansion to nearly double capacity

Gosford Hospital's emergency department will be expanded from 28 to 52 treatment bays under a $180 million state government investment, responding to persistent overcrowding at the Central Coast's main emergency facility that has placed clinical staff under sustained pressure and extended patient wait times.

NSW Health Minister Ryan Park said the expansion was a long-overdue response to population growth that had outpaced the hospital's infrastructure. Central Coast Health had recorded more than 85,000 emergency presentations in the previous financial year — 40 per cent above the figure projected when the department was last expanded in 2009.

The new emergency department footprint will be built on the hospital's western boundary, connecting via an internal corridor to the existing emergency facilities. A new resuscitation bay with six bays, a 12-bay short-stay unit, and a dedicated paediatric assessment area within the department are among the clinical improvements planned. The project also includes a new CT scanner with direct access from the department, replacing the need to transport patients through the hospital for imaging.

Clinical staff who spoke with local media described the current conditions as among the most challenging in the state system, with some night shifts managing simultaneous major trauma, mental health crises, and paediatric emergencies in a space not designed for the volume. "This expansion doesn't just help patients. It makes it possible for our staff to actually do their jobs safely," said one senior nurse, who asked not to be named.

The expanded emergency department is expected to be operational by mid-2027.

This article was compiled by AI from the sources linked above and screened before publishing. See our editorial standards.