03 June 2008

Funding boost for rural and regional health

Communities across rural and regional NSW will have greater access to high quality health care as part of the Iemma Government’s $13.15 billion investment in public health services in 2008-09.

NSW Minister for Health Reba Meagher said the 2008-09 Health Budget provides $3.8 billion for rural and regional NSW, an increase of $139 million over last year. In addition, the Iemma Government will invest around $250 million on capital works projects throughout rural and regional NSW.

“This significant investment will help our doctors, nurses and allied health professionals deliver quality health care closer to home for people living in rural and regional NSW,” Ms Meagher said.

The 2008-09 Budget provides funding to extend Medical Assessment Units across the state with an additional 72 beds to be provided in 2008-09. This will include an additional 40 beds in hospitals across rural and regional NSW.

Further investment will also fund 160 extra community-based beds in 2008-09, with more than half of these going to rural and regional NSW.

Key aspects of the 2008-09 Budget for rural and regional healthcare include:

• Additional funding for 37 acute beds out of 52 across the state to ensure greater access to hospital care for local residents
• $2 million for additional senior nursing and allied health staff to treat patients in local hospitals closer to home
• $12.2 million to start work on the $27 million Lismore Integrated Cancer Care Centre
• $5.6 million to start work on the $41.7 million Narrabri Hospital redevelopment
• $18 million to start work on a number of rural health services including a Coonamble Multi Purpose Service, both a Multi Purpose Service and HealthOne at Manilla, and Multi Purpose Services at Eugowra and Balranald
• $25.6 million towards mental health capital works projects currently underway at Gosford, Wollongong, Shellharbour, James Fletcher and Coffs Harbour hospitals
• $3.6 million to complete the improvements to clinical services at John Hunter and Belmont hospitals
• Funding for the final stages of the $212 Newcastle Mater Hospital redevelopment (Public Private Partnership)
• $1 million towards cardiac services at Orange
• $2.5 million statewide for renal services including Newcastle, Dubbo and Orange
• $250,000 to expand the Tamworth Regional Retrieval Service.

Ms Meagher said people in rural and regional areas would benefit from continued investment in a range of major capital projects and health service programs including:

• $17.5 million to progress a range of rural projects including the Manning Base, Singleton and Maitland Hospital emergency departments, Grafton Base Hospital, Nyngan Health Service, Ballina Rehabilitation Unit and site acquisition at Byron Bay
• $10.5 million towards ongoing Multi Purpose Service projects, including completion of Bingara, Merriwa, Warialda
• $11.7 million to continue planning for new hospitals at Tamworth, Wagga Wagga, Bega Valley and Lachlan Valley
• $5.9 million to complete the redevelopment of Wyong and Gosford hospitals
• $2.8 million to complete Queanbeyan Hospital
• $6.9 million for a number of new projects under the Ambulance Infrastructure Program, including new ambulance stations at Batemans Bay and Byron Bay, and the introduction of new technology for the electronic patient record and radio network
• $2 million to progress ambulance station upgrades at Deniliquin and Nelson Bay
• $636,000 for a Pathway to Home Program at Tamworth
• $105,000 for John Hunter Children’s Hospital to support children with chronic and rare conditions in the transition from paediatric to adult services.

"The significant investment in redeveloping and expanding rural and regional hospitals will help provide better health services to people right across rural and regional NSW," Ms Meagher said.

Ms Meagher said health spending for the coming year continues the Iemma Government’s focus on health promotion, disease prevention and early intervention.

“The Rudd Government has delivered an additional $167 million for NSW in 2008-09 to meet the rising demand on the public health system,” Ms Meagher said.

“After years of neglect from the previous Commonwealth Government, this additional funding will allow us to develop new strategies to better manage chronic disease.

“These new strategies will include consolidating referral and access points to community-based services for people with chronic illness, streamlining processes of assessment and care, and promoting chronic disease prevention.”

This year's budget also provides funding for important new health infrastructure to enhance health services, including:

• $1 million for operating theatre equipment at Wollongong Hospital
• $900,000 for a CT Scanner at Maitland Hospital
• $800,000 for operating theatre equipment at Port Macquarie Base Hospital
• $600,000 for Tamworth Hospital’s Picture Archival Service
• $400,000 for additional equipment at John Hunter Children’s Hospital.

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