16 June 2009

Caring Together with record health investment for rural and regional NSW

Communities throughout rural and regional NSW will have greater access to high quality care, after the Rees Government allocated $15.1 billion to health in its 2009/10 budget.

Minister for Health, John Della Bosca, said $4.12 billion has been allocated to rural and regional areas, an increase of $276.8 million on the previous year.

“On top of that, the Government has allocated a further $603 million state-wide for capital works in 2009/10, as part of a $2.4 billion four-year program,” the Minister said.

“The Government has devoted by far the biggest slice of the State budget to health.

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

“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, staff by highly trained and committed people who deliver some of the most complex health care services available.

“The NSW Government has built or rebuilt virtually every major hospital and emergency department in rural and regional NSW, but further capital works projects will be undertaken in 2009/10,” the Minister said.

They include:
• Narrabri Hospital redevelopment;
• $28.8 million for Orange Base Hospital redevelopment including $6.5 million for radiotherapy services, $3.3 million for maintenance and $1.1 million for dental services ( part of a $251 million project);
• Commonwealth and State funding for redevelopment of Grafton Hospital operating theatres and Emergency Department;
• $20.7 million funding to complete Multi-Purpose Service facilities at Balranald ($13.3 million 2009-10), Eugowra ($6.8 million 2009-10) and Merriwa ($488,000 in 2009-10) and funding to start construction at Coonamble and Manilla;
• $16.8 million to complete the development of the Integrated Cancer Centre at Lismore Hospital (total cost $27 million);
• $15.6 million for the NSW Ambulance Service including fleet management ($7 million) and continuation of redevelopments at Batemans Bay ($950,000), Byron Bay ($920,000) and Nelson Bay ($960,000) Ambulance Stations. Also, medical equipment renewal ($2 million), rollout of the Ambulance electronic health records system ($3.4 million) and Government radio/private mobile radio networks ($350,000);
• $12.6 million for HealthOne NSW to improve access and health services primarily in rural areas including Blayney ($206,000), Cootamundra ($2.069 million), Corowa, Quirindi ($839,000), Raymond Terrace ($45,000 for planning) and Gulgong ($20,000 for planning);
• Funding for restructure and refurbishment works in the heritage building at Bathurst Hospital, which will enhance ambulatory care services;
• $9 million state-wide funding for planning including Tamworth Hospital, Prince of Wales Mental Health Intensive Care Unit and Multi-Purpose Services at Werris Creek, Gundagai and Lockhart;
• $8.2 million to complete the upgrade of the emergency department at Maitland Hospital (total cost $10 million);
• $6.9 million for completion of 20-bed Mental Health Unit at James Fletcher Hospital (total cost $8.9 million);
• $4.5 million for the rural Cardiac Catheterisation program including the completion of unit at Lismore Hospital;
• $3.2 million for Psychiatric Emergency Care Centre redevelopments;
• $1.8 million for a 6-bed Interim Mental Health Unit at Bega (total cost $2.2 million); and
• $1.7 million for Child and Adolescent Inpatient Unit at Shellharbour Hospital;

Other key initiatives include:
• $17.7 million for 6 new Medical Assessment Units and the expansion of another 6 units, increasing bed capacity throughout the state by 69 ($4.1 million North Coast Area Health Service, $2.5 million Northern Sydney Central Coast Area Health Service, $4.1 million South East Illawarra Area Health Service, $2.1 million Hunter New England Area Health Service, $2.1 million Greater West Area Health Service, $1.5 million Sydney West Area Health Service and $300,000 Sydney South West Area Health Service) – part of a $150 million four year program;
• $11.9 for more than 7,900 community-based residential and or aged care places, to assist in transition in patients back to their home or care provider;
• An extra $10 million for community-based mental health programs including services for older people, mental health emergency care, rehabilitation and state-wide telephone access now totalling more than $60 million annually;
• $9.4 million for an additional 30 hospital beds – Sydney South West (6), South Eastern Sydney Illawarra (6), Sydney West (6), Northern Sydney Central Coast (6) and North Coast (6);
• $7.7 million state-wide funding to expand renal services including additional renal dialysis chairs, intensive therapy capacity, home dialysis support and prevention and education programs;
• $5 million for services to children with rare and complex conditions;
• $4.8 million to expand maternity services including 38 midwives positions and 6 obstetricians;
• $3.8 million for expanding the Aboriginal Housing and Accommodation Support Initiative (HASI);
• An extra $2.8 million making an annual total of $5.5 million for the Building Strong Foundations for Aboriginal Children, Families and Communities strategy, to ensure quality access to early childhood health services for Aboriginal families; and
• $2 million for 2 additional Intensive Care beds at John Hunter and Gosford hospitals.

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

“This significant investment will help our doctors, nurses and allied health professionals deliver quality health care closer to home for people living in rural and regional NSW,” the Minister said.

Caring Together initiatives for 2009-10 for Rural and Regional NSW include:
• $8.8 million for 160 Clinical Support Officers who will enable doctors and nurses to spend more time caring for patients and less time on paperwork;
• $6.8 million for 45 additional rural junior medical doctor positions;
• $2.7 million for new Clinical Pharmacists who will improve patient safety by monitoring the type, quantity, past use and combination of prescription medicines…educate patients about their prescribed medications and advise junior doctors and nurses on the best use of medicines;
• $2.3 million for Emergency Physicians;
• $2.2 million for improved cleaning services;
• $1.4 million for new Clinical Initiative Nurses who will improve communication with patients and their families in the Emergency Department waiting room, organise x-rays so results are available when the patient is seen by a doctor and organise pain relief or a reassessment of priority for a patient if their condition changes while waiting; and
• $1.3 million to assist rural patient transport and accommodation for clinical care (IPTAAS);
• $950,000 to employ more support staff to ensure single sex rooms and areas wherever possible.

Mr Della Bosca said 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 Minister said.

"The Rees Government is boosting health funding in rural and regional NSW to ensure local communities have access to high quality health services closer to home,” he added.

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