The NSW public health system is world-class. It is the biggest public health system in Australia with more than 220 public hospitals and over 100,000 dedicated staff who make up the health workforce.

Our population is growing and it is also ageing. Technology, medical specialisation, new treatments and a wealth of medical research continually informing health care mean we are living longer but we are also costing more to treat.

It is important to know that if you elect to be a public patient when admitted to a public hospital, you will not receive a bill for your stay.

Your tax dollars contribute to meeting the costs of health care - it is your health system.

On a typical day in NSW

A typical day most commonly relates to Monday to Friday activity when most elective surgery is performed.

• 200 babies are born
• 5,600 people are admitted to a public hospital
• 17,000 people spend the night in a public hospital
• 1,000 patients have their surgery (emergency or planned) performed in our public hospitals
• 6,500 people are seen by our emergency departments
• Almost 100,000 dedicated staff provide over 100,000 patients services each day
• 20 patients have their hip replaced
• 18 patients have a knee replaced
• 100 patients have their cataracts removed
• 25 patients have their appendix removed
• 32 patients have their gall bladder removed