John Hunter Health and Innovation precinct: social impact assessment for state significant development application

In June 2019, the NSW Government announced a significant expansion of the John Hunter and John Hunter Children’s Hospitals with the $780 million John Hunter Health and Innovation Precinct (JHHIP) project. The JHHIP will transform healthcare services for Newcastle, the greater Hunter region and northern NSW communities. The infrastructure will provide additional inpatient capacity to the John Hunter Hospital (JHH) and the John Hunter Children’s Hospital (JHCH) and create further opportunities for partnerships with industry and higher education providers. The JHHIP will deliver an innovative and integrated precinct with industry-leading facilities working in collaboration with health, education and research partners to meet the current and future needs of the Greater Newcastle, Hunter New England and Northern NSW regions. The JHHIP Project is being planned and designed with ongoing communication and engagement with clinical staff, operational staff, the community and other key stakeholders with a strong focus on the following: Patient-centred care, Contemporary models of care, Future economic, health and innovation development opportunities, Environmental sustainability. The Hunter Research Foundation Centre (HRFC) at the University of Newcastle was commissioned by Health Infrastructure NSW (HI) to undertake an independent Social Impact Assessment (SIA).