11 July 2007

Boost to health services at Westmead Hospital

Westmead Hospital's new Women's Health and Newborn Care Centre will provide state-of-the-art care for women and babies when it opens later this month, Minister for Health Reba Meagher said.

Ms Meagher and Member for Parramatta Tanya Gadiel today met with clinicians and staff at Westmead Hospital to inspect the new $31.7 million centre and hear about the benefits it will deliver for families in Sydney's west.

"This builds on the NSW Government's record health budget which delivers on its commitment of providing improved health services in Sydney's west through additional beds and community-based bed equivalents, funding for children's dental care and the redevelopment of health facilities in the local area," said Ms Meagher.

"The Women's Health and Newborn Care Centre will provide a new standard of care and comfort for women and their families.

"The Centre provides a new birthing unit, special care nursery and neonatal intensive care unit, 41-bed maternity ward, antenatal and gynaecology inpatient wards and ambulatory care clinics in the one location.

"This means that the care and services provided will not only be among the most modern available, but will be convenient and welcoming for patients."

Member for Parramatta Tanya Gadiel said the new services would be welcomed by local families.

"By 2011 we expect there will be more than 5,000 babies born at Westmead Hospital each year," Ms Gadiel said.

"This new Centre provides the highest possible standard of care for women and their families now and into the future."

Ms Meagher said the Women's Health and Newborn Care Centre was one of a number of projects at Westmead Hospital which received funding as part of the record $1.29 billion investment in health services and hospital care for people in the Sydney West Area Health Service in the 2007-08 state health budget.

The health budget provided $5.5 million to complete the refurbishment of cancer wards at Westmead Hospital and enhance breast screening services across the area.

Inspecting the progress of the refurbishment, Ms Meagher said the Westmead Cancer Care Centre is based on the US-style comprehensive cancer centre model which combines cutting-edge services with a patient-friendly approach.
"This means that patient care at every level will be organised to ensure smooth transition between hospital inpatient services, community treatment or palliative care as people's care needs change," Ms Meagher said.

"The co-location of a range of speciality cancer services means patients will be able to receive diagnoses and a range of treatments and rehabilitation without the need to make separate trips."

The Westmead Cancer Care Centre is scheduled for completion by the end of the year.

"These new services build on the announcements in the record health budget," Ms Meagher said.

"This year's budget adds a further 63 beds and community-based bed equivalents for local residents, on top of the additional 65 beds announced last year.

"Importantly, this budget provides funding to enhance community based health services and a focus on early intervention to keep people healthy at home and out of hospital with the support they need in their local community."

Other major service enhancements for Sydney West Area Health Service in the 2007/08 Budget include:

• an additional $2.6M to reduce elective surgery waiting times and improve services in emergency departments;
• An additional $1.9m for child oral health and $1.3m for adult oral health to improve access to dental care for young families and people with complex and special needs;
• $625,000 to expand the award winning mental health Housing Accommodation Support Initiative (HASI);
• $200,000 for child and adolescent mental health outpatient services;
• $2.4M to upgrade and enhance a range of medical imaging and patient monitoring equipment at Nepean Hospital;
• Auburn Health Services Redevelopment - $45.2M for the construction of a new hospital on the existing site to provide a comprehensive range of services;
• Mental Health - $2.2M to build Psychiatric Emergency Care Centres at Blacktown and Nepean Hospitals
• Pathways Home Program - $4.1M will go towards improvements to community care and rehabilitation units at Nepean Hospital;
• $1.6M to develop the ambulance station at Auburn;
• Planning to meet the election commitment for redevelopment of Nepean Hospital.

For a range of health information, go online to www.health.nsw.gov.au