CATHOLIC Healthcare's development of St Vincent's Hospital as a future aged care facility is expected to represent a broader commitment from next year to aged care in the region.

The move to close the hospital and convert it into an aged care facility has been aimed at satisfying growing needs of the region's aging population, Catholic Healthcare chief executive officer Chris Rigby said outlining the future direction of the facility.

After nearly 90 years of St Vincent's as a hospital, Mr Rigby said it will close as from September 1 while plans are being developed this year for building to start for the aged care facility to open in 2011.

"We're 10 days into the planning, we've held discussion about retirement living in Bathurst with the council dating back 3-4 months," Mr Rigby said after the shock announcement the hospital would close.

"We will be planning with the council for the rest of 2010 in time to start building in 2011."

Mr Rigby said it would be the Federal Government that determines just how many beds will be provided at St Vincent's because the government determines how many aged care beds should be funded in any given area.

Mr Rigby said Catholic Healthcare [CHL] has had vast experience in the development and provision of significant aged care services in NSW and Southern Queensland..

He said CHL has just opened a facility at Coffs Harbour with 56 new beds while refurbishing 60-70 more, replacing a smaller, older facility with added beds.

Jemalong Retirement Village at Forbes previously owned by the Shire Council has been under development with 90 beds opening in July.

Mr Rigby said the Outreach Service from St Vincent's would continue to provide home nursing as it had in the past. Looking after people leaving hospital or those suffering chronic illnesses in need of support at home.

St Vincent's would also continue as the base for the Aged Care Assessment Team in the region, undertaking assessments for Commonwealth Government funding to provide services to people over 65-years of age, with the hope this service could be expanded.

When opened next year the St Vincent's Aged Care facility would provide for Bathurst services similar to those CHL provides at Macquarie Care Centre and St Catherine's Aged Care in Bathurst, St Anne's Aged Car, Perthville and local Community Aged Care services.

In the case of Macquarie Care, Mr Rigby confirmed that St Vincent's had previously sought to have that facility developed near the hospital.