A $2.5 million renovation at Calvary Riverina Hospital has been completed.
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The work - on the St Gerard's women's and children's unit - has been finished in time to mark the 60th anniversary of the unit's original opening.
Kate Nicholas, the clinical manager for St Gerard's, said feedback from both staff and former patients helped shape the renovation plans, which were at least five years in the planning.
The unit has three birthing suites, which have all undergone renovations, plus the addition of a birthing pool. The special care nursery was also upgraded.
Ms Nicholas said there had been a lot of attention to detail, from repainting in "calming birth colours" to tucking away necessary medical equipment behind curtains and even installing dimmer switches for the lights in the birth suites and attached bathrooms.
"It's the little things I really like. For example, birthing balls are now kept up on a shelf and easy to reach. In the past, they were in a cupboard," she said.
Ms Nicholas said the completion of the renovation would allow her to start work on the next project for the ward: The introduction of a new graduate nurse-midwife program.
She is hoping the program will be able to start with its first participant in the new year.
Robin Haberecht, the chief excutive officer of Calvary Health Care Riverina, said there were currently five obestrician-gynaecologists attached to the hospital - Ettie Joubert, Rehana Lulania, Nita Dhupar, Mohamed Foda and Bayo Adeyemi - with hopes of recruiting at least one more.
"A few years ago, a lot were retiring. It has taken a number of years to recruit and attract more obstetricians to this community," Ms Haberecht said.
"It's worked out really well. We're very, very well supported.
"There's 14 obstetric beds, plus special care nursery beds. Patients can be managed very well here.
"If there's any concerns or complications that require a high level of care, they can be transferred by NETS to Sydney or Canberra. This service here can provide all the necessary facilities for safe birth."
But, Ms Haberecht said the 25-bed unit was not just used for pre and post-natal care and obstetric services.
As well as paediatric care and surgery, a range of women's surgery is carried out, including breast, gynaecological and urological.
"We have a very competent, well-trained breast cancer nurse who supports women coming in for any kind of breast surgery, particularly oncological surgery," Ms Haberecht told The Daily Advertiser.
"That's a great asset to us."