The $7 million expansion of John Hunter Children’s Hospital was awarded to Donnelley Constructions and works on Stage One have already begun. This much needed upgrade will double the current neonatal intensive care floor space and increase beds from 42 to 53, putting it among the largest of the 10 neonatal intensive care units in the state.

Donnelley Constructions will be building greatly improved facilities for staff and parents, including privacy dividers between each special care crib, reclining chairs and mini fridges for storing breastmilk.

The Hospital’s Director of Newborn Services, Paul Craven, said the unit which opened in 1991, not only takes babies from the sprawling Hunter-New England region, but from across the state as well. He said it was a much needed project for the hospital and will be funded by Hunter Health Infrastructure.

The refurbishment will include demolition of existing internal areas, construction and fit out of the neonatal intensive care unit along with commissioning of all systems and providing operational training to all staff.