04 September 2011

Unprecedented $4.7 billion to rebuild hospitals

The NSW Government has committed to a record health capital works program of $4.7 billion over four years, a 50 per cent increase on the previous four years, the Minister for Health, Jillian Skinner announced today.

In 2011-12, the health capital works program is $1,082 million which is $67 million more than the 2010-11 Budget, and includes a record $343 million on new works.

The program comprises capital expenditure of $921 million, with a further $161 million in recurrent expenditure related to capital works and includes capital grants of $61 million.

Included in the capital works program is $139 million for the expansion of Campbelltown hospital, $147 million for the expansion of services at Royal North Shore hospital over the next four years, and the commencement of a $170 million e-health project to improve medication safety.

Mrs Skinner said the NSW Government’s commitment to improving front line health services is reinforced by our significant spend in capital works.

“We are rebuilding and expanding NSW hospitals so we can provide more beds to treat more patients, reducing waits for elective surgery and relieving pressure on our emergency departments,” Mrs Skinner said.

“Our doctors and nurses deserve world class infrastructure so they can provide timely quality health care for patients in NSW.

“We know that many doctors, nurses and patients suffered under NSW Labor’s long list of broken hospital promises, which is why we have made this record investment,” she said.

Major capital works projects over 4 years include:

• New or major upgrades to hospitals, including Campbelltown ($139 million), Dubbo Base ($79.8 million), Port Macquarie Base ($110 million),Wagga Wagga Base ($270 million), Prince of Wales Hospital Comprehensive Cancer and Blood Disorders Centre ($47.2 million), and a new St George Hospital emergency department ($35.5 million);
• Planning for the joint State/Commonwealth Hospital and Health Fund projects - South East Regional Hospital at Bega ($170m) and the Tamworth Regional Referral Hospital ($220m);
• An additional $55 million to expand the Royal North Shore Hospital to include 60 extra beds and relocate maternity, mental health and other services that were left out of the previous plans – the total estimated cost of this project is $147 million;
• Funding of planning, design and documentation for election commitments over the next four years, including Lachlan Health Service (Parkes and Forbes Hospitals), Illawarra-Shoalhaven hospitals, Blacktown/ Mt Druitt, and Hornsby Ku-ring-gai hospitals and the new Northern Beaches Hospital;
• Funding for planning and land acquisition for the Hunter Valley hospital (Maitland), planning for the Northern NSW hospital services (Lismore and Byron Bay) and upgrades at Ryde, Gulgong, Mona Vale, Woy Woy and Wyong;
• Upgrades and equipment replacement at Cessnock, Maitland, Kurri Kurri and Wansey and acquisition of land at Waratah;
• Upgrades to car parking at Nepean, Sutherland and Shoalhaven hospitals, and
•  Commencement of a $170 million e-health project to improve medication safety.

“These funds are investments in our front line,” Mrs Skinner said.

“By upgrading facilities that have been long neglected, we can provide more beds and more nurses so they can provide more timely patient care.”