It is part of a landmark $3B commitment in the NSW Budget for new and upgraded hospitals across greater Western Sydney, one of the largest investments in Western Sydney health infrastructure in recent memory.
The 2023-24 NSW Budget includes $120M for an extra 30 beds each at the Blacktown Hospital campuses in Blacktown and Mount Druitt, for a total of 60 new hospital beds across Sydney’s west.
The Minns Labor Government has an ambitious agenda to rebuild essential services, including healthcare, that communities across greater Western Sydney rely on.
Together, these investments will deliver on the Minns Labor Government’s pledge for 600 new hospital beds across greater Western Sydney.
Hospitals across greater Western Sydney have been left overwhelmed and underfunded after 12 years of neglect by the Liberals and Nationals, including not permanently funding 1,112 nurses and midwives currently working in NSW hospitals.
Data from the Bureau of Health Information (BHI) shows almost 53,000 patients presented to emergency departments across the Western Sydney Local Health District in the April to June quarter, 2023.
The data also reveals these patients are facing long wait times in emergency departments, with just 42 percent of patients starting their treatment on time.
"Addressing these challenges has been made more difficult by the state of the budget we inherited, with record debt, $90 billion worth of privatised assets and $7 billion in unfunded promises," Dr Hugh McDermott MP: State Member for Prospect:
"We can’t undo 12 years of Liberal and National neglect of our health system overnight – it will take time.
"But we are undertaking a comprehensive suite of reforms to rebuild our health system.
"These investments in new and upgraded hospitals in greater Western Sydney are possible because the Minns Labor Government is making responsible decisions to repair the budget and reprioritise spending on essential services.
"The Minns Labor Government is setting out a long-term plan to repair the budget so we can deliver essential healthcare services for families across greater Western Sydney, reduce waiting times and improving access to timely, high-quality healthcare."
