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 robb.stewart@wsj.com
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