The NSW Government is investing a landmark $3 billion 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 an additional $400 million to build the $700 million Rouse Hill Hospital – the first brand new adult public hospital to be built in Western Sydney in more than 40 years.
The new Rouse Hill Hospital will include an emergency department, maternity services, ambulatory and outpatient care and medical imaging services.
The NSW Government has an ambitious agenda to rebuild essential services, including healthcare, that communities across greater Western Sydney rely on.
That’s why the Budget also includes:
- $550 million for Fairfield Hospital, in its first major redevelopment since it opened in 1989.
- $350 million for Canterbury Hospital, in its first major redevelopment since 1998.
- $1.3 billion to build the Bankstown-Lidcombe Hospital on a new site, the first major investment since the two hospitals merged in 1997.
- $120 million for additional beds at Blacktown and Mt Druitt Hospitals.
Together, these landmark investments will deliver on the NSW 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.
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 historic investments in new and upgraded hospitals in greater Western Sydney are possible because the NSW Government is making responsible decisions to repair the budget and reprioritise spending on essential services.
The NSW 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.
NSW Premier Chris Minns said:
“We were elected with a clear mandate to rebuild essential services and invest in our frontline workers.
“Our healthcare system has been under incredible pressure in recent years. Chronic underinvestment by the former Government didn’t help.
“The thousands of people moving into these growth areas every year deserve world class healthcare – which my government will deliver.
Minister for Western Sydney Prue Car said:
“Western Sydney is the engine room for the state’s growth so it deserves a proportionate rate of investment in services.
“After many years of false promises, this historic level of investment by the Minns Labor Government delivers what the community has been crying out for.
“I’m proud to be part of a government that is delivering on such a scale for the region.”
Health Minister Ryan Park said:
“Families living across greater Western Sydney have a right to timely, equitable healthcare and they should have confidence in their local hospitals.”
“That’s why we’re committed to delivering the essential services our community deserves and expects all while building the healthcare infrastructure to meet the need of these growing communities into the future.
“This is all part of our ambitious and comprehensive plan to invest in the state’s healthcare system and support and increase our frontline healthcare workforce.”