TUESDAY June 15 2021, marked the official unveiling of the Macksville District Hospital.

The celebration was a long time coming, with COVID-19 delaying this celebration for a year, but it was worth the wait.

Member for Oxley Melinda Pavey said the facility was designed to best meet the unique needs of the Nambucca Valley community.

“Built on a greenfield site three kilometres north of the Macksville town centre, the new hospital was designed from the ground up to meet the community’s needs,” Ms Pavey said via Facebook.

“That sounds like a bunch of words, but this community process and the consequent innovative design of the Macksville hospital has set a national standard – this is a place by community, for the community.”

The unveiling of the new facilities on Tuesday, included the dedication of a commemorative plaque honoring community members and local organisations for their commitment to the hospital.

The construction of the hospital was fast-tracked to enable the hospital to be opened ahead of time.

This allowed the old hospital to be repurposed for more than six months as a drive-through COVID-19 testing clinic.

The new hospital includes 42 inpatient beds (single and double rooms, all with ensuite bathrooms), as well as Emergency Department, Maternity, Tresillian, Community and Allied Health and day procedure beds and treatment spaces.

The new hospital features a modern café run by United Hospital Auxiliaries volunteers, a cancer resource centre utilised by Nambucca Valley Cancer Support Group and impressive artworks produced by local Aboriginal community members and high school students, adorn the foyer.

A Tresillian residential unit, the first of its kind in regional Australia, was opened at the hospital in February this year.

“Today the community and health staff finally took a moment to celebrate this incredible health care faculty – and I feel truly blessed and proud to have been part of this journey.

“Big thank you to the Mid North Coast Local Health District Governing Board members, Nambucca Valley Shire mayor Rhonda Hoban and all the endless staff, community and indigenous leaders, volunteers and government agencies who were there to celebrate the occasion today,” Ms Pavey said.