03 June 2008

Health funding boost for the Hunter

NSW Minister for Health Reba Meagher said people in the Hunter region will benefit from today's $13.15 billion statewide budget investment to upgrade public hospitals, update equipment and enhance the public health workforce.

"The Iemma Government's boost to health funding in the Hunter delivers on our State Plan priority to improve access to high quality health care across the state," Ms Meagher said.

"People living in the Hunter region will benefit from a $1.18 billion investment in Hunter New England Area Health Service, which is an additional $49.7 million over last year."

Major health spending in the Hunter in 2008-09 includes:

• 11 new acute care beds at Belmont Hospital
• An additional 8 beds to establish a Medical Assessment Unit at Maitland Hospital as part of a statewide investment
• $7.6 million to complete the non-acute Mental Health Unit at James Fletcher Hospital
• $3.6 million to complete the improvements to clinical services at John Hunter and Belmont hospitals
• Funding for the final stages of the $212 million Newcastle Mater Hospital redevelopment (Public Private Partnership)
• $3.5 million to commence work on the $10 million upgrade of Maitland Hospital Emergency Department
• $781,000 to expand renal dialysis services at the Wansey Dialysis Centre, Charlestown
• $105,000 for John Hunter Children's Hospital to support children with chronic and rare conditions in the transition from paediatric to adult services
• $1.7 million to increase 10-hour night shifts for nurses at John Hunter Hospital
• $180,000 to upgrade the Singleton Hospital Emergency Department.

"This investment in new hospital beds, mental health services and better services for older patients and those managing chronic illnesses will provide better access to local health services for people living in the Hunter," Ms Meagher said.

Hunter residents will also benefit from investment in a range of health services across the Hunter New England Area Health Service, including:

• $3.6 million for an additional 29 community-based care places as part of a statewide program to support people in their home and avoid the need for hospital admission
• Seven additional Midwives and an Obstetrician in response to a 28 per cent increase in births across the Hunter New England area since 2003-04
• An additional four Clinical Nurse Educators to increase nursing workforce skills and enhance patient safety
• $3.7 million for the purchase of specialist medical equipment such as blood pressure machines, ECG machines and operating theatre equipment.

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."

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