Sydney's Major Hospital Precincts and Nearby Accommodation
Sydney's four largest public hospital campuses are spread across the metro area, from the inner city to Western Sydney. The table below maps each hospital to its closest practical suburb, approximate drive times in normal traffic, and indicative weekly furnished apartment rates sourced from active Sydney listings (market data, 2025).
| Hospital | Nearest Practical Suburb | Drive Distance | Drive Time (off-peak) | Indicative Rate ($/week) | Typical Recovery Stay |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Royal Prince Alfred (RPA) | Surry Hills / Newtown | 2.1 km | 7 min | From $1,050/week | 3 to 10 weeks |
| St Vincent's Hospital | Surry Hills / Darlinghurst | 1.2 km | 5 min | From $1,100/week | 2 to 8 weeks |
| Westmead Hospital | Parramatta | 2.8 km | 9 min | From $820/week | 4 to 12 weeks |
| Royal North Shore Hospital | Chatswood | 3.4 km | 11 min | From $980/week | 3 to 10 weeks |
Indicative rates are for self-contained one-bedroom furnished apartments. Two-bedroom options suitable for two caregivers or a parent and child are available at each precinct; contact Extended Stays for a tailored shortlist.
Why a Furnished Apartment Outperforms a Hotel for Medical Stays
For stays beyond three nights, self-contained apartments provide meaningfully better value and comfort than hotel rooms (Australasian Medical Travel Association guidance, 2024). A full kitchen reduces daily food spend by an estimated $40 to $80 per person (Roy Morgan household spending data, 2024). In-apartment laundry removes the logistics of finding a laundromat while managing hospital visits. Separate living and sleeping areas let caregivers rest properly. Fast NBN Wi-Fi supports telehealth appointments, video calls with family interstate and remote work for partners who cannot take full leave.
Extended Stays specifically matches medical guests to apartments that meet a recovery-focused checklist: ground-floor or lift access, 24-hour building entry, quiet floor or aspect, and proximity to a supermarket or pharmacy. Surry Hills, for instance, sits directly between RPA and St Vincent's and is served by at least four major pharmacy groups within 600 metres of most residential streets. Parramatta, the gateway to Westmead, has a Woolworths and Coles within the Westfield centre, a seven-minute walk from most apartment buildings we match to.
IPTAAS: Offsetting Your Accommodation Costs
NSW residents travelling more than 200 kilometres from home for specialist medical treatment may be eligible for the Isolated Patients Travel and Accommodation Assistance Scheme (IPTAAS), administered by NSW Health. IPTAAS provides an accommodation subsidy of up to $50 per night for private accommodation, or up to $35 per night where a patient uses a government-subsidised facility (NSW Health, 2025). For a six-week stay, that represents up to $2,100 back toward your accommodation cost. Extended Stays provides the itemised booking confirmation documentation that IPTAAS assessors require. We strongly recommend starting your IPTAAS application before travel; forms are available through your treating hospital's social work team or directly via the NSW Health website.
Getting Between Your Apartment and the Hospital
Transport from our most-matched suburbs to each hospital is reliable and well-documented by Transport for NSW:
- Surry Hills to RPA or St Vincent's: Both hospitals are walkable (15 to 20 minutes) or a short Uber. The 422 and 428 bus services run from Cleveland Street directly past RPA's main entrance (Transport for NSW, 2025).
- Parramatta to Westmead: The T1 Western Line train from Parramatta Station reaches Westmead Station in under four minutes. The hospital's main entrance is a three-minute walk from the platform (Transport for NSW, 2025).
- Chatswood to Royal North Shore: The B-Line bus service and the T1 North Shore Line both serve Chatswood. Bus route 273 runs directly to Royal North Shore's Pacific Highway entrance in approximately eight minutes (Transport for NSW, 2025).
- Mascot to RPA or St Vincent's: Mascot offers strong value for families needing a slightly quieter base. The T8 Airport and South Line connects Mascot Station to Central in nine minutes (Transport for NSW, 2025), from where both hospitals are accessible by bus or a short taxi.
How Matching Works: Four Steps to Your Apartment
- Tell us your situation. Submit a brief enquiry with your target hospital, arrival date, party size and approximate stay length. No commitment required.
- Receive your shortlist within 24 hours. Extended Stays presents two to four matched options across relevant suburbs, each with photos, weekly rate, distance to hospital and available amenities.
- Confirm directly. You book with the accommodation operator. Extended Stays coordinates the confirmation and supplies the documentation you need for IPTAAS or insurance reimbursement claims.
- Ongoing support. If your stay extends due to treatment changes, we manage the extension request on your behalf.
Most medical enquiries are matched within one business day. For urgent placements required within 48 hours, note this in your enquiry and we will prioritise your file.
Request your accommodation options now and let Extended Stays take one significant pressure point off your plate.