A Minns Labor Government will deliver expanded hospital capacity and relieve the pressure on our hospitals by adding 600 additional beds across Western Sydney – including a $700 million investment for a 300-bed hospital at Rouse Hill.
For the last 12 years, our health system and the people who work in it have been neglected by Dominic Perrottet and the Liberals.
Since 2016, New South Wales has lost 365 hospital beds. In same period Victoria has gained 598, while Queensland gained 1,027.
A Labor Government will stop the bed cuts and return every single one of those beds – and more – to help fix our hospitals.
The Liberals and Nationals have taken Rouse Hill Hospital to two elections, and in March will take it to a third – but after 12 years, not a single sod has been turned.
Thousands of families are moving into the North-West growth area, but Dominic Perrottet and the Liberals have failed to ensure the health and education infrastructure is there to support them.
The Blacktown Local Government Area (LGA) has a population of 411,000 people in 2021. This is expected to grow to 612,000 by 2041.
It’s time for a fresh approach. Under Labor, Rouse Hill Hospital will deliver comprehensive healthcare services to this growing population, especially to young families. The expansion of Rouse Hill Hospital will include:
- An Emergency Department including urgent care centre and emergency medicine
- Comprehensive maternity services and women’s health services
- Day surgery unit
- Adult and paediatric short stay unit
- Ambulatory and outpatients care including day chemotherapy and infusion, renal dialysis, mental health, and ante/post-natal care
- Comprehensive medical imaging services
- Prehabilitation and rehabilitation services
Additionally, any new hospitals built under Labor will move to a full campus model, starting with Rouse Hill. That means Rouse Hill Hospital will have a childcare centre and healthcare worker housing, both on site.
Labor is also announcing $150 million to expand the capacity of Blacktown and Mt Druitt Hospitals – including an additional 60 beds and additional services such as chemotherapy, cancer treatment, and dialysis.
Local Hospitals in Crisis
Western Sydney Hospitals continue to be the most under-pressure in the state.
Western Sydney currently gets the least health spending per person of any area in New South Wales. As the population increases this is only set to get worse, as the population in Western Sydney local health area will grow by almost double the state average.
Meanwhile Bureau of Health Information (BHI) data continues to show that hospitals in Western Sydney are under sustained pressure.
At Blacktown Hospital only 12.5 per cent of critical emergency patients started their treatment on time – in 2011 that figure was 86.5 per cent. Meanwhile, in the last quarter more than 1,800 patients simply left without treatment.
At Mt Druitt Hospital only 21.2 per cent of critical emergency patients started their treatment on time – in 2011 that figure was 80.1 per cent. Meanwhile almost 16 per cent of patients simply left without treatment.
Time for a fresh start for NSW Health
After 12 years, our health system has deteriorated. Dominic Perrottet and the Liberals in New South Wales have to wait longer to get an ambulance, longer to be treated in an emergency department, and longer for important elective surgeries.
Nurses and paramedics are over worked and understaffed. 1 in 5 of nurses are thinking about leaving their current patient care position within the next 12 months.
Labor will deliver a fresh start for health in New South Wales. We’ve already announced:
- Safe staffing levels in NSW hospitals. It will help with workloads, it will take pressure of nurses and ensure they can treat patients with the care they deserve and need.
- An additional 500 rural and regional paramedics in Labor’s first term.
- Upgrades to Canterbury and Fairfield Hospitals, and opening the new Eurobodalla Hospital at Level 4.
Labor has a comprehensive plan to rebuild our health system, which we are ready to implement from day one if elected. Meanwhile Dominic Perrottet can’t even tell the people of NSW who the Health Minister would be under a Liberal government.
Quotes attributable to Chris Minns, NSW Labor Leader:
“Labor is proud to deliver over 600 new hospital beds for Western Sydney. For far too long healthcare in Western Sydney and the Hawkesbury has been an afterthought. Under Labor that stops today.
“Our healthcare system has been under incredible pressure in recent years. Chronic underinvestment doesn’t help.
“The thousands of people moving into the area every year deserve world class healthcare – which Labor will deliver.”
Quotes attributable to Ryan Park, NSW Shadow Minister for Health:
“This government has overseen cuts to hospital beds across the state. It has to stop.
“The Liberals can’t be trusted to deliver this hospital which they have been promising for eight years. There is a clear choice when it comes to health – more of the same neglect under the Liberals or a fresh start under Labor.
“This commitment will deliver a hospital that this area desperately needs.”
CHRIS MINNS
NSW LABOR LEADER
RYAN PARK
NSW SHADOW MINISTER FOR HEALTH
