Western Sydney is ready for the next infectious disease whenever it should hit, with Australia’s first purpose-built Biocontainment Centre now open in the Westmead Health Precinct.
Built to treat and safely isolate patients with rare highly infectious diseases, known as high consequence infectious diseases, the new Biocontainment Centre is expected to help NSW respond to future pandemics.
A shared facility of Westmead Hospital and Sydney Children’s Hospitals Network, the new centre includes a lift to transport contagious patients directly from the Westmead Hospital helipad, or an ambulance, straight to the Biocontainment Centre.
Health Minister Ryan Park said the purpose-built Biocontainment Centre demonstrates how important it is for NSW to be capable of keeping people safe and providing the best care possible.
“The centre is equipped with six specialised quarantine class and negative pressure beds and helps us effectively respond to future pandemics and provide high level care to both adult and paediatric patients,” he said.
“The community can be assured that, with this facility, NSW is ready to act and keep the community safe.
“I am really pleased to see clinicians from both Westmead Hospital and the Sydney Children’s Hospital network embracing this model of care, which is the first of its kind in Australia.”
Cathryn Cox PSM, Chief Executive of Sydney Children’s Hospitals Network, said the centre’s specialist staff are highly trained in managing patients.
“We look forward to collaborating with all our colleagues across the Precinct, and NSW, to deliver a coordinated, specialised response through this centre of expertise, with a focus on containment and high-quality care of patients and their families,” she said.
Three steam steriliser autoclaves will be used to process contaminated waste, with contaminated patient waste to be treated by the centre’s own sewage treatment plant. Different colours have also been used on the floor of the centre to identify which areas are ‘clean’ or ‘contaminated’ for additional safety.
WSLHD’s Acting Chief Executive Rebecca Nogajski said the centre plays many roles, operating as the state-wide referral and outreach facility for patients with suspected or confirmed HCID, as well as the education and training hub for preparedness and safe practice in managing these diseases.
“This centre is self-contained, able to provide high-level emergency care, as well as access to specialist therapies such as phage therapy,” she said.
“The centre stocks rarely used antibiotics, antivirals, antitoxins, vaccines and other key therapeutics.
“It also offers expert infectious diseases advice, including referral to relevant diagnostic testing and locations of testing, links with NSW Health Pathology and management able to be utilised as a 24/7 service in the early phases of the response.”
Ellie Busby is a news reporter for Western Sydney Publishing Group. A graduate of the University of Hertfordshire and Western Sydney University, she is a journalism Major. Ellie has worked with Universal Media, The Cova Project and for a range of other organisations. In 2024, Ellie was named Young Writer of the Year at the Mumbrella Publish Awards.