Families in rural and regional NSW will benefit from a record
health Budget, with new hospitals and health facilities and thousands more
frontline doctors, nurses and other health workers.The NSW
Government will spend a record $26.7 billion
in the 2019-20 NSW Budget ($24.0 billion recurrent expenses, $2.7 billion capital expenditure), which will see major improvements to community health
services, including dental treatment,
preventative measures and health
protection services including immunisation
and influenza prevention campaigns.
Minister for Health and Medical Research
Brad Hazzard said $2.8 billion is
being invested to recruit 8,300 extra frontline staff over the
next four years. Almost half of
these staff (45 per cent) will go to
the regions.
“The NSW Government is committed to building healthy and resilient
regional and rural communities,”
Mr Hazzard said.
“We are making record investments in health in every corner of
the state – building new hospitals , upgrading existing health facilities and
expanding community health services.
“When it comes to rural health
care, we are continuing our record
health infrastructure program – we are focused on getting
it done.”
Minister for Mental Health, Regional Youth and Women Bronwyn
Taylor said providing world-class health care for people in regional NSW is a
priority.
“The health and wellbeing of young people in
rural and regional NSW will continue to be a focus with the investment
of $4.2 million over four
years into the school nurse coordinator program, as well as
$11 million for Getting on Track In Time – got It! Whichis
a state-wide school based early intervention
program to support social and emotional learning for
children,” Mrs Taylor said.
“We have also enhanced
crisis support services by expanding
capacity at Kids Helpline by
$5 million to answer an extra 18,400
calls per year. We are also trialling a crisis sms service to reach young people
in their language and this is
all in addition to the $8.27 million the
NSW
Government has today
announced for drought
related mental health
initiatives over the
next year.”