NSW Health Media Release: Major health investment in Northern Sydney Central Coast Area Health Service

3 June 2008

The Iemma Government is investing $1.26 billion to deliver better services and improve health infrastructure across the Northern Sydney Central Coast Area Health Service in 2008-09.

NSW Minister for Health Reba Meagher said the 2008-09 Health Budget provides an additional $38.1 million for the Northern Sydney Central Coast Area Health Service.

Ms Meagher said the investment in the Area Health Service is part of a $13.15 billion State Health Budget aimed at better managing chronic illnesses in the community so that hospitals can continue to provide priority access for people who need acute care.

"For people living in the Northern Sydney Central Coast area that means funding for more beds, more doctors and nurses and expanded community health services," Ms Meagher said.

Major health service enhancements for the Northern Sydney Central Coast Area Health Service include:

• 6 new acute care beds at Gosford Hospital
• The establishment of an after hours GP Clinic at Mona Vale Hospital
• An additional 20 beds at Wyong Hospital as part of a statewide investment to expand the Medical Assessment Unit program
• $1.8 million for an additional 15 community-based care places as part of a statewide program to support people in their home and avoid the need for hospital admission
• $70,000 for a vascular access co-ordinator for renal services at Royal North Shore and $667,000 as part of a statewide home dialysis capital replacement program
• 5 additional Midwife positions and further obstetrics services in response to a 19.8 per cent increase in births in the area since 2003-04, as part of a statewide investment for expanded maternity services to care for mothers and babies, with an emphasis on co-locating intensive and neonatal intensive care services
• 3 Clinical Nurse Educator positions to increase nursing workforce skills and enhance patient safety
• $606,000 for the introduction of 10-hour night shifts for nurses at Gladesville/Macquarie Hospital.

Ms Meagher said the 2008-09 Budget includes $82.7 million in capital works funding for the Northern Sydney Central Coast Area Health Service as part of this Government's ongoing investment in public hospitals and healthcare facilities.

"One of the key aspects of the capital works funding is $61.4 million to complete the Research and Education Building at Royal North Shore Hospital (which is jointly funded with Sydney University) and to progress Stage 2 of the main hospital redevelopment," Ms Meagher said.

"The redevelopment of Royal North Shore Hospital is the largest health capital project ever undertaken in NSW and it is exciting to see the project reaching significant milestones."

Other key capital funding includes:

• $5.9 million to complete the redevelopment of Wyong Hospital ($1.37m) and Gosford Hospital ($4.56m) as part of the Central Coast Access Plan
• $2.5 million to complete the upgrade of Ryde Hospital
• $150,000 to continue work at the Dallwood Byrnes Trust Building in Seaforth.

Ms Meagher said the 2008-09 Budget also provides an additional $8.5 million to improve mental health services and facilities for the area, including:

• $8.3 million as part of a $13 million investment to redevelop the Mandala Mental Health Unit at Gosford Hospital
• $200,000 to improve facilities at the Manly Psychogeriatric Unit.

Ms Meagher said health spending for the coming year continues the Iemma Government's focus on health promotion, disease prevention and early intervention.

"The Rudd Government has delivered an additional $167 million for NSW in 2008-09 to meet the rising demand on the public health system," Ms Meagher said.

"After years of neglect from the previous Commonwealth Government, this additional funding will allow us to develop new strategies to better manage chronic disease.

"These new strategies will include consolidating referral and access points to community-based services for people with chronic illness, streamlining processes of assessment and care, and promoting chronic disease prevention."

Residents across the Northern Sydney Central Coast area will also benefit from a $32 million statewide investment in new hospital equipment, including $3.9 million locally for important hospital ward equipment such as blood pressure machines, ECG machines and lifting equipment.

"The Iemma Government is boosting health funding right across the Northern Sydney Central Coast area to ensure local communities have access to high-quality health services closer to home," Ms Meagher said.

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