03 June 2008

Health funding boost for St George-Sutherland

NSW Minister for Health Reba Meagher said people living in the St George and Sutherland areas 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 across the region delivers on our State Plan priority to improve access to quality health care across the state," Ms Meagher said.

"People living in the St George and Sutherland areas will benefit from a $1.79 billion investment in the South Eastern Sydney Illawarra Area Health Service, which is an additional $76 million over last year."

Major health spending in the St George-Sutherland area in 2008-09 includes:

• An additional six beds at St George Hospital as part of a statewide investment to expand the Medical Assessment Unit program
• $2.3 million towards a non-acute mental health unit at St George Hospital
• $4.9 million to complete the non-acute mental health unit at Sutherland Hospital
• $200,000 to complete Stage 1 of the St George Prostate Cancer Centre.

St George and Sutherland residents will also benefit from investment in a range of health services across the South Eastern Sydney Illawarra Area Health Service, including:

• $2 million for an additional 16 community based places across the Area Health Service to support people to stay in their homes
• 4 Clinical Nurse Educators to boost nursing skills and enhance patient safety
• 1 additional Midwife position and further obstetrics services, as part of a statewide investment for expanded maternity services to care for mothers and babies, with an emphasis on co-locating intensive and neonatal intensive care services
• $5.5 million to purchase 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