Four years ago possums were found living among medical supplies in the Intensive Care Unit and doctors openly referred to conditions as ‘slum-like’ at the Hornsby Ku-ring-gai Hospital.

However now a long awaited redevelopment of the hospital is underway, with Health Minister Jillian Skinner announcing the four-storey Surgical, Theatres, Anaesthetic and Recovery (STAR) wing  as the centre-piece of the $120 million upgrade.

Following the $33.5 million opening of a mental health facility in June, the latest stage of redevelopment will include eight operating theatres and three 28-bed inpatient surgical wards that will make up part of the STAR wing.

Health Minister Jillian Skinner took aim at the previous Labor government as having neglected hospital infrastructure and allowing the hospital to fall into disrepair.

“This project is yet another example of the NSW Liberal & Nationals Government’s commitment to overcoming Labor’s legacy of 16 years of neglect of hospital infrastructure,” said Mrs Skinner.

Despite a planned completion date of mid-2015, the opposition spokesman for Health and Medical research, Dr Andrew McDonald, said the redevelopment would take much longer than expected, creating more obstacles for staff during the renovations.

“They said it would take one term, but now we know it will take eight years and at least two terms. They need to increase funding to get the job done faster and get the hospital back up and running for its staff and for the community.”

The restructuring of Northern Sydney hospitals will see the development of a level 5 hospital at Frenchs Forest, the eventual closure of Manly and downsize of Mona Vale.

However the Hornsby Ku-ring-gai hospital is expected to add 84 beds in the inpatient surgical wards and 47 beds in the newly opened mental health unit.

Following an increase of $1 billion in the 2012-2013 health budget, the Member for Hornsby, Matt Kean, said the redevelopment signalled the state government’s commitment to health.

“I made rebuilding Hornsby Ku-ring-gai Hospital my number one priority and I am proud to be able to deliver on that commitment today. Finally, the people of Hornsby can look forward to receiving high quality care, close to home, in a state-of-the-art facility,” said Mr Kean.

The $120 million redevelopment was approved earlier this month by the Department of Planning and Infrastructure and the main works tender was awarded to Richard Crookes Constructions.