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Orange Private Hospital seeking injection, as two years of Covid takes a toll
May 20, 2023
By Peter Holmes
Two years of operating a new private hospital during a pandemic have been hugely challenging, with the people behind Orange Private Hospital seeking outside investment, or possibly new owners.
Dr Bill Mackie is a director of the company that owns Orange Private Hospital, which is on levels three and four at the Bloomfield Medical Centre.
The building itself is owned by the likes of Centuria Healthcare Property Fund and Nexus Property Unit Trust.
Nexus manages the private hospital on behalf of all owners.
Mackie told The Orange News Examiner on Saturday that, “we have been going through a process looking for further investment, or possible sale, but that’s not complete yet”.
Asked if it had been a struggle to fill some positions, he said: “It has been for the last two years, attracting staffing. There is a shortage of nursing staff right through the system, public and private.”
“We've had a very difficult two years … otherwise we wouldn’t be looking for new investors and the possibility of even selling part or all of the hospital. I think the staff have been aware of that, that’s been the plan to keep things going.”
He said that to the best of his knowledge no surgeries had been cancelled or put off due to staffing.
“No. Business as usual.”
Orange Private Hospital opened on July 7, 2021. The timing couldn’t have been more unfortunate.
In the months preceding and following the hospital launch Australia was caught in the maelstrom of rolling lockdowns, intra-state travel restrictions, quarantining, border closures and the fear of dealing with a new vaccination.
On July 12, 2021, QR Codes became mandatory at many locations.
On July 21, 2021, Orange, Blayney and Cabonne went into a seven-day lockdown after being declared a Commonwealth Hotspot.
Society gradually began returning to normal, but the impact of 2020 and 2021 on many businesses, particularly those on the front lines in health, was significant.
Orange Private Hospital has five “fully equipped theatres with the latest equipment, imaging, and ICT systems”, according to a media release issued upon launch.
“The theatres are designed with sophisticated air-conditioning, lighting and control systems which provide a state-of-the-art operating environment to minimise infection risk and other adverse events.
“The inpatient wards are comprised of the close observation unit, general ward, paediatric and sleep unit, with a total of 23 private rooms.”
It is able to offer services including bariatric, breast, plastic, reconstructive, colorectal, gastrointestinal and paediatric surgeries, sleep studies, respiratory care, gynaecology and urology.
Orange Specialist Clinic is based at the private hospital. According to its website Its surgeons include Dr Henry Hook, Dr Robert Knox, Dr Jared Chang, Dr David Bell and Dr Mackie.
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