16 June 2009

Caring Together with record health investment NSCCAHS

The NSW Government is investing $1.32 billion to deliver better services and improve health infrastructure across the Northern Sydney Central Coast Area Health Service in 2009/10.

Minister for Health, John Della Bosca, said that represents a $64 million increase on the previous year and is part of an overall $15.1 billion State health budget.

“This is a record investment by the NSW Government to meet the demands of a growing and ageing population,” the Minister said.

“Health services must use these funds more wisely than ever, to ensure they can safely treat as many patients as possible.

“We now invest $41 million a day in one of the finest health systems in the world, with highly-trained and committed staff who deliver some of the best health care services available.

“The NSW Government has built or rebuilt virtually every major hospital and emergency department in the state, but there’s still more work to do.

“The 2009-10 health budget delivers $603 million for capital works as part of a $2.4 billion four-year program to upgrade or re-build a number of health facilities across the state,” the Minister said.

Capital works funding for North Sydney Central Coast Area Health Service includes:
• $24.7 million for Royal North Shore Hospital redevelopment (total cost $973 million);
• $6.6 million for redevelopment of Mandala Mental Health Unit at Gosford Hospital;
• Funding for replacement of Magnetic Resonance Imaging machine (MRI) and Positron Emission Tomography services (PET) at Royal North Shore Hospital;
• $1.5 million for Royal North Shore Hospital maintenance (total cost $55.5 million); and
• $800,000 to complete surgery and allied health services redevelopment at Ryde Hospital.

Other major health service enhancements for the North Sydney Central Coast Area Health Service include:
• $17.7 million in state-wide funding for Medical Assessment Units including a new 8-bed facility at Mona Vale Hospital ($2.1 million) and 2-bed expansion at Royal North Shore Hospital ($500,000);
• $1.7 million for 6 additional beds at Gosford Hospital;
• $1 million for an additional adult Intensive Care bed at Gosford Hospital;
• $265,000 to roll out 10-hour night shifts for nurses at Greenwich and Neringah;
• $200,000 for a fulltime specialist clinical geneticist for adult and paediatric genetics services; and
• $100,000 to increase clinical nurse educators to expand nursing workforce skills and enhance patient safety.

Mr Della Bosca said this budget contains state-wide funding of $117 million to deliver the practical initiatives in the Government’s Caring Together: The Health Action Plan for NSW to help doctors, nurses and allied health staff focus on patient care.

“That includes $1.974 million for Emergency Physicians and $385,000 for additional allied health coverage for ward rounds for North Sydney Central Coast Area Health Service,” the Minister said.

“The Area will also benefit from a share in $63.1 million in 2009-10 to upgrade business information technology including medical imaging and clinical systems across the state.

“The delivery of major information technology initiatives will help improve patient services and provide necessary information and systems to support staff to continue to deliver the best possible care.

“As part of the Government’s “Keep Them Safe: A Shared Approach to Child Wellbeing” action plan, $3.6 million will be invested to establish a Child Wellbeing Unit within NSW Health – part of a $14.4 million project over four years to improve the health and safety of children.

“NSW Health will also provide $3.6 million to non-government agencies to establish Regional Intake and Referral Services – part of a $23.5 million four-year commitment to improve access to community support services for vulnerable children and families.

"The Rees Government is boosting health funding right across the Northern Sydney Central Coast Area Health Service to ensure local communities continue to have access to high quality health services closer to home,” the Minister said.

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