Leighton to Design, Build New Sydney Hospital

   By Robb M. Stewart 
 

MELBOURNE, Australia--Construction-and-engineering firm Leighton Holdings Ltd. (LEI.AU) Thursday said it had been hired by private-healthcare provider Healthscope Ltd. (HSO.AU) to design and build a hospital in Sydney, a project expected to bring in revenue of 540 million Australian dollars ($449 million).

Construction is due to begin early next year on Northern Beaches Hospital, which will have a 50-bay emergency department, 14 operating theaters, six surgical suites and other care units. The hospital is scheduled to open in 2018, Leighton said.

Separately, Healthscope said it had been contracted by the New South Wales government to provide services over a 20-year period to public patients in addition to all care for private patients. At the end of this period, the public portion of the hospital will be handed to the state at no cost, and Healthscope will offer private-patient care for a further 20 years, before the remaining part of the hospital is given to the state.

Write to Robb M. Stewart at [e-mail]

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