Delivering for families, jobs in the community and boosts to health services in regional NSW are the top priorities for health in the 2019-20 NSW Budget, Treasurer Dominic Perrottet and Minister for Health and Medical Research Brad Hazzard announced today.

A massive $2.7 billion will be invested in capital on top of $24 billion in recurrent spending over the coming year – taking the total 2019-20 health budget to $26.7 billion.

“This record $26.7 billion health budget shows the NSW Liberals & Nationals Government is committed to improving services in the regions, supporting families and boosting jobs in regional and rural communities,” Mr Perrottet said.

“The recurrent funding investment will focus on families with additional funding providing an extra 8,000 paediatric operations and 10,000 cataract surgeries over the next four years.”

Mr Hazzard said this record Budget will see the first stage of an unprecedented boost to the frontline workforce with an extra 8,300 staff over the next four years under a $2.8 billion commitment – 45 per cent of staff to go to the regions.

In addition, the second tranche of paramedics and call centre staff will be deployed from the record 750 boost to workforce announced in last year’s Budget.

“The NSW Liberals & Nationals Government is investing in our greatest health asset – the amazing staff who care for our patients,” Mr Hazzard said.

“This record Budget will ensure patients, their families and those in regional communities already doing it tough in drought-affected areas continue to get timely, world-class care, no matter where they live.”

Health highlights in the Budget include:

• $2.8 billion to recruit a total of 8,300 frontline health staff over four years
• $10.1 billion over four years to invest in NSW’s health infrastructure to continue current works and commence upgrading and building a further 29 hospital and health facility projects, as well as ensure compliance with new leasing standards
• $70 million over four years to provide 35 new free mobile dental clinics allowing access to dental checks and basic dental care for up to 136,000 primary school children in Western Sydney, Mid North Coast and the Central Coast each year
• $42 million over four years to provide women with greater choice around IVF services and a partnership with the University of NSW for the first state-wide fertility preservation service for young cancer patients at The Royal Hospital for Women
• $76 million over four years to boost elective surgery, focusing on children and cataract patients, with delivery of an additional 8,000 paediatric operations and 10,000 cataract surgeries in addition to the investment in frontline staff
• $27.1 million to employ 221 paramedics and call centre staff (second tranche of record 750 workforce announced last year) to improve response times, reduce paramedic fatigue and support safety
• $23.5 million for mental health to expand the capacity of Lifeline and Kids Helpline over four years
• $45 million over four years in palliative care for 100 palliative care nurses, Aboriginal health workers, digital health solutions and the refurbishment of existing facilities. This is in addition to a $100 million package for palliative care that was announced as part of the 2017-18 Budget.
• in 2019-20, the Government will invest $2.9 billion in the Health capital program, which includes $148 million from the Ministry of Health’s recurrent expense budget and $78 million for lease acquisitions

The extra 8,300 frontline health staff over four years includes:

• 5,000 nurses and midwives, including mental health and palliative care nurses
• 1,060 medical staff including doctors, psychiatrists and specialists
• 880 allie​d health staff including pharmacists, social workers, physiotherapists, occupational therapists and psychologists.