Hard work and dedication for new St Helens District Hospital

Primary Health North director of nursing Fiona Young praised the hospital's director of nursing Denise Callister for the amount of effort she had put into the project.

"I don't know how we could sum up the time and efforts that Denise has put in to supporting, coordinating, doing the work behind the redevelopment," she said.

Ms Young said the St Helens District Hospital was a very busy rural hospital, and despite that Ms Callister took on the challenges of the project while still working in her director of nursing role.

"It's been a magnificent effort, and really Denise has invested so much in this hospital as have a number of other people," she said.

"[She's] picked colour schemes, kept the staff, supported the community to be involved - [she's] done so much consultation and communication.

"We've privileged to have [her] in this position."

Ms Callister said it had been an honour to work on the project.

"It's just been a privilege and I guess I'm very honoured to have had the opportunity. I've been involved since the very beginning," she said.

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"It must have began seven or eight years ago.

"I mean, there was no funding. It was just a concept at that stage. So we took it right through until the end."

Health Minister Michael Ferguson said the St Helens community should "take a deep bow" for its efforts.

"The government is doing what it should do. The council is doing what it should do. The community is doing what is should do," he said.

"There aren't too many examples where you see everybody getting involved, not just government.

"That's pretty special."

Ms Callister said the Break O'Day community had also done a great job in helping, especially the St Helens Hospital Auxiliary.

The auxiliary raised more than $100,000 to fit out the hospital's new palliative care unit through the St Helens Tip Shop and community donations.

"And not only does the auxiliary run the tip shop, they've also opened one at St Marys as well," she said.

"So it's really about the Break O'Day community."

More than 200 people attended the hospital's open day on April 3, with positive feedback reported from attendees.

The hospital will be officially opened in May following the relocation of services from the Cecilia Street site.