16 June 2009

Caring Together with record health investment

The Rees Government has delivered a record $15.1 billion for health in the 2009-10 NSW Budget to continue to meet the health needs of the people of NSW.

Minister for Health, John Della Bosca, said $14.5 billion has been provided for health service delivery, a 10.2 per cent increase or $1.34 billion on the previous year, with a further $603 million to upgrade and enhance health infrastructure across NSW.

“The Government is devoting the biggest slice of the State budget to health,” the Minister said.

“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, with highly-trained and committed staff who deliver some of the best health care services available.

“This budget contains $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.

“We will be investing $485 million in Garling reforms over four years to ensure patients continue to be at the centre of health care in NSW,” the Minister said.

Caring Together initiatives for 2009-10 include:
• $44 million for 500 Clinical Support Officers who will enable doctors and nurses to spend more time caring for patients and less time on paperwork;
• $13.3 million for Emergency Physicians;
• $8.6 million for 64 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;
• $7.4 million to promote a positive culture and for training programs to prevent bullying;
• $6.8 million for 45 additional rural junior medical doctor positions;
• $6.35 million for improved cleaning services;
• $3.9 million for on the job training;
• $3.7 million for 30 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;
• $3 million to employ more support staff to ensure single sex rooms and areas wherever possible;
• $2.8 million for additional allied health coverage for ward rounds; and
• $2.3 million to assist rural patient transport and accommodation for clinical care (IPTAAS).

Mr Della Bosca said a key reform to ensuring the NSW health system will continue to meet the demands of the population is the provision of Medical Assessment Units, where elderly and fragile patients are treated quickly, as an Emergency Department is not often the best place to provide treatment.

“The 2009-10 Budget provides $17.7 million for 6 new Medical Assessment Units and the expansion of another 6 units, providing an additional 69 MAU beds - this is part of a four year $150 million program to enhance MAU services in NSW,” the Minister said.

“Overall, this budget will provide 106 additional beds (including the MAUs) across the NSW to meet ongoing demand, as well as $11.9 million for more than 7,900 community-based residential and or aged care places to relieve pressure on the health system.

This includes:
• $9.4 million for an additional 30 hospital beds;
• $3 million for 3 additional Intensive Care beds at John Hunter, St George, and Gosford hospitals;
• $3 million for 3 additional neo-natal beds at Royal Hospital for Women (2) and one at Children’s Hospital at Westmead; and
• $900,000 for providing additional high risk maternity bed capacity at Royal Hospital for Women.

Other key initiatives of the 2009-10 health budget include:
• 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;
• $7.7 million 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;

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.

Other initiatives aimed at improving the well-being of children include:
• $2 million for better services for families where parents have mental illness – part of a progressively increasing $14 million four-year allocation;
• $3 million for coordination of health assessments for children and young people in out-of-home care – part of a $12 million four-year allocation;
• $2 million to extend trial of Sustained Health Home Visiting programs for children at risk – part of an $8 million four-year allocation;
• $2 million for better services for families where parents have drug and alcohol problems – part of an $8 million four-year investment;
• $1.9 million for new therapeutic programs for children and young people who display abusive behaviour – part of a $7.7 million four-year allocation;

Mr Della Bosca said the Commonwealth-NSW partnership in the provision of new health infrastructure and key services like dental, cancer, maternity and elective surgery will support and compliment the NSW Government’s Caring Together health action plan.

“NSW looks forward to working in partnership with the Commonwealth to deliver better health services for NSW families,” the Minister said.

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