“The lessons learnt from Bathurst will be put into place here to ensure there is no repeat,” said Robert Rust, chief executive officer of Health Infrastructure with NSW Health.Mr Rust said NSW Health Minister Reba Meagher had asked him to review what had happened in the central west and part of his report would be to advise what improvements could be made in the planning and procurement phases.Surgeons last week stopped operating at the recently opened $98 million Bathurst hospital amid claims it was dysfunctional, while medicos also criticised the layout and size of the nearby Orange hospital.Mr Rust was among a group of NSW Health and Greater Southern Area Health officials who held a pre-tender briefing in Wagga with three companies and a government department that have been shortlisted for the job of consultant project director for the planned $275 million replacement of Wagga Base Hospital.They are Capital Insight, Aurora Projects, APP Corporation and the NSW Department of Commerce.Capital Insight is the project director procurement for the $98 million Bathurst Base Hospital.It is also project manager for the $1.23 billion Gold Coast University Hospital project.Aurora Projects specialises in planning for the delivery of health and aged care services, as well as infrastructure, while APP describes itself as one of the largest independent project managers in Australia.The successful consultant will be announced in late April.GSAHS chief executive Heather Gray said the organisation would work closely with the consultant, stakeholders and NSW Health Infrastructure to ensure a successful outcome for the hospital project.The consultant will undertake the required planning approvals, acquire several adjacent properties and develop tender documentation of the design and construction of the new hospital.Sector manager with Health Infrastructure, John Sung, said $3 million had been allocated this financial year for that work and more money was expected to be allocated in the government's 2008-2009 budget mid-year.IMAGE: Outside Wagga Base Hospital before their pre-tender briefing yesterday are, from left, Jim Gilvarry (APP Corporation), Alan Thomas (Aurora Projects), Kevin Ellison (Department of Commerce), Robert Rust (NSW Health), Heather Gray (GSAHS) and Stephen Haldane (Capital Insight). Picture: Les Smith