10 November 2008

Westmead celebrates 30th birthday

Sydney's Westmead Hospital today celebrated a significant milestone, marking 30 years of excellence in quality health care.

NSW Minister for Health, John Della Bosca said Westmead had long been recognised as one of the state's flagship health facilities and it had achieved a world class reputation for quality health care.

"The NSW Government has long recognised Westmead Hospital as one of the state's flagship health facilities and has supported it in its ongoing endeavour to produce cutting edge and lasting medical innovations," Mr Della Bosca said.

"The Hospital continues to be one of the biggest hospitals in NSW, with more than 5,100 full time equivalent staff.

"Since the hospital opened its doors in 1978, there have been an impressive 122,634 births at Westmead Hospital and it continues to be one of the most popular hospitals for women to give birth in NSW.

"The Hospital's annual activity for 2007/08 included more than 1.2 million outpatient attendances and 52,700 emergency department attendances.

"The Hospital has undergone some major changes in recent years to accommodate the growing needs of the community and to keep ahead of the pace in providing high quality care," Mr Della Bosca said.

"In November 2006 we opened the new $33.6 million wing - E Block. The E Block includes state-of-the-art facilities for Intensive Care, Neurosurgery, Trauma and Allied Health.

"Last July Westmead's new $31.7 million Women's Health and Newborn Care Centre opened, providing world-class care for women and their babies.

"The Centre provides a new birthing unit, special care nursery and neonatal intensive care unit, 41-bed maternity ward, antenatal and gynaecology inpatient wards and ambulatory care clinics in the one location," the Minister said.

"In June we opened what has now become the new $18 million Cancer Care Centre, where medical nursing and allied health staff deliver optimum care for patients and their families facing life threatening illnesses.

"The centre includes state-of-the-art technology, world class research and clinical trials, and specialised psychosocial support delivered in efficient but patient-friendly surroundings," Mr Della Bosca said.

"The new facilities provided recently allow Westmead to continue to act as a principal referral and teaching hospital to the communities of Sydney's Greater West as well as to rural and regional communities," the Minister said.

"This is something I am proud of as Health Minister and something I'm sure the community is proud of also.

"It is the commitment and professionalism of current and former hard working clinical and support staff that has afforded Westmead the reputation it richly deserves as a world class provider of care.

"I congratulate them all and thank them on behalf of the patients they have cared for and the communities they continue to serve," he added.

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