VIDEO | Bird's eye view of progress as new $470m hospital hits its highest point

The occasion was celebrated with a native water gum tree craned onto the roof - in this case the helipad - a tradition believed to bring luck to occupants of the hospital.

There to witness the Topping Out ceremony were the Minister for Mental Health Bronnie Taylor, Mayor Loretta Baker, Member for Maitland Jenny Aitchison and the Chief Executive of Hunter New England Local Health District, Mr Michael Di Rienzo.

"The hospital development will transform healthcare for the Hunter," Mrs Taylor said.

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"The new facility offers a wide range of services with significantly more beds and treatment spaces. It has been designed in collaboration with staff and the community to better meet the changing healthcare needs of the area."

Almost 5000 new jobs are being created as part of the hospital development, which is supported through the Maitland Connectivity Centre.

The Centre, run by Multiplex Constructions in partnership with the NSW Government, offers free training and job placement services throughout the project.

"Despite the restrictions of COVID-19, we are proud the Connectivity Centre has remained open and has placed nearly 50 candidates into employment opportunities on the project so far," Mrs Taylor said.

Ms Aitchison noted that the helipad itself was a significant inclusion in the new design.

"It was one of the features that was added to the original design following consultation with the community and Hunter New England Health," she said.

Ms Aitchison noted that, in the current phase of construction, the new Maitland Hospital is providing 500 jobs, rising to 5000 over the course of the build.

The hospital will also provide a significant number of new jobs for nurses, midwives, allied health professionals, cleaners and other associated health workers.

"This truly captures the spirit of Maitland," Ms Aitchison said.

"Everyone in the community worked together to ensure we will have a fully public hospital.

"This hospital will be truly owned and operated by all of us, for all of us, as it should be."

More than 20,000 people signed a petition calling for the new hospital to remain in public hands.

Construction of the new Maitland Hospital remains on schedule, with completion scheduled for 2022.

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