Local doctor's 45-years of service honoured as multi-million Crookwell emergency department opens

Doctor Ramaswamy Thangavelu was on hand alongside NSW health and government officials to open the facility as well as unveil a plaque acknowledging his 45 years of service.

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Construction began in November 2021 and focuses on amenities such as a new reception area, larger waiting rooms, bathrooms and acute treatment space but also included some new medical equipment in the form of ECG machines, a defibrillator and transport ventilator.

The upgrade is part of an overall refurbishment project for the hospital including a Wellness Centre, record storage, office improvements and upgraded communications facility.

Southern NSW Local Health District Acting Chief Executive Fiona Renshaw labelled the new emergency department as a 'welcoming space'.

"Patients, visitors and staff will benefit from a range of new and improved public and clinical facilities. The new ED is a welcoming space with its own reception desk and well-designed public and ambulance access," Ms Renshaw said.

Goulburn MP and Minister for Local Government Wendy Tuckerman was also present and praised hospital workers for their efforts.

"Well done to the Crookwell Hospital staff team for persevering with the building works while managing the local COVID-19 response and the interruptions caused by lockdowns and supply chain issues," Mrs Tuckerman said.

"I am particularly pleased to be here today to see the completion of the hospital upgrade as one of my 2019 election commitments to deliver a new ED and refurbished Wellness Centre for the Crookwell region."

The news comes off the back of fresh talks between the NSW Government and NSW Nurses and Midwives Association in April regarding the latter's demands for staff to patient ratios and pay.

General Secretary, Brett Holmes, said he was hopeful the government would take action.

"We had the opportunity to discuss the dire staffing crisis in our public hospitals, as well as the extraordinary lengths nurses and midwives are having to go to maintaining health services," he said in a statement.

"There is an awareness by government that we need more nurses and midwives to deliver safe patient care and how unsustainable the current working conditions are, particularly for the future."

Crookwell nurses and midwives were among over 100 in the region to take strike action in Goulburn back in March.

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