New health centre to bring services close to home.

The construction of a new health centre RPA HealthOne is underway, bringing the local community another step closer to accessing comprehensive care close to home.

The NSW Health Secretary Elizabeth Koff, Sydney Local Health District Chief Executive Dr Teresa Anderson, and Health Infrastructure's Executive Director, Northern Region Leisa Rathborne were on hand to help turn the first sod to celebrate the project milestone.

They were joined by John Ajaka, the District's Chair of the Board, Central and Eastern Sydney Primary Health Network Chief Executive officer Nathalie Hansen and Professor Joshua Burns, Head of School and Dean of School of Health Sciences at the University of Sydney.

RPA HealthOne will provide health services to support the community's health and wellbeing and integrate specialist services and primary health practitioners in one spot.

It will focus on early intervention, health promotion and prevention including services that would traditionally be provided in a hospital setting at RPA.

"Sydney Local Health District, in partnership with Health Infrastructure, has been working with the community on the plans for RPA HealthOne," Dr Anderson said.

"Our partnerships with community, primary care and education and training institutes will enable this facility to support private practitioners in the surrounding medical and health neighbourhood, to improve patient care services outside of the hospital system."

In partnership with the University of Sydney, the District has formed an Academic Primary Care Unit to collaborate with community and private primary health care practitioners in the area, such as GPs, nurse practitioners, pharmacists and allied health professionals to help turn evidence-based research into practice.

Ms Koff said the start of the works is a major milestone for the community amid the challenges of COVID-19.

"The COVID-19 pandemic has shown our healthcare system is robust yet flexible and highlighted the importance of continuing to deliver services that our community needs, closer to home," she said.

The purpose-built facility will feature eight consultation rooms, six treatment rooms, a range of meeting rooms and a gymnasium for patient therapy, along with parking for cars, bicycles and a drop off area.

Located at 944 Bourke Street, Zetland, close to the Green Square train station, the area is projected to be home to more than 61,000 people by 2031, making it one of the most densely populated neighbourhoods in Australia.

The project is part of a $100 million NSW Government HealthOne Strategy. RPA HealthOne is expected to be completed in early 2023.

For more information, visit www.slhd.nsw.gov.au/RPA/HealthOne