A Minns Labor Government will commit $15 million to commence planning and site selection for a new public hospital in the Aerotropolis, securing the future of a new hospital that will service the largest growth area of Sydney over the coming decades.
 
The Western Parkland City region, will grow by over 360,000 people in the next 20 years – an increase of 32 per cent, making it the fastest growing region in the state.
 
For too long, families across Western Sydney have moved into new suburbs on the promise that crucial infrastructure will follow – but more often than not, they are left without roads, schools, or access to healthcare.
 
And without proper planning, it adds pressure to existing health services, in this case Nepean, Liverpool and Campbelltown hospitals who are already under severe stress.
 
That stops under a Labor Government.
 
Families will continue to move into this area over the coming decades, and this announcement will see the necessary health infrastructure planned for, with a site identified for a future hospital.
 
Labor is also committing to planning and building new hospitals with a full campus model – which means a future hospital at the Aerotropolis will have a childcare centre, and healthcare worker housing, both on site.
 
Importantly, this is also a key outcome from evidence given at the NSW Parliamentary Inquiry into Current and future provision of health services in the South-West Sydney Growth Region, which recommended:
 
“That the New South Wales Government secure land within the Aerotropolis precinct for a future health facility that could expand children’s services to meet the needs of South-West Sydney, including the projected population in and around this precinct.”
 
Local hospitals under pressure
 
Recent Bureau of Health Information (BHI) figures show that hospitals in the area are under pressure.
 
Not a single nearby hospital was starting critical emergency department treatments on time, in more than half the cases.
 
The majority of patients waited over four hours for their treatment to start.
 
Meanwhile over 11,000 people left the emergency departments of the two Local Health Districts (Nepean Blue Mountains and South West Sydney) in the last quarter without getting any treatment.
 
Time for a fresh start for NSW Health

After 12 years, our health system has deteriorated. Under Dominic Perrottet and the Liberals, people 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 start the long-term plan to redesign and repair the health system and 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.
• Returning 600 beds to Western Sydney after 365 were across NSW by the Liberals since 2016.
• Upgrades to Canterbury, Fairfield, Mount Druitt and Blacktown Hospitals and opening the new Eurobodalla Hospital at Level 4.
• A commitment to build Rouse Hill Hospital including an emergency department.

Quotes attributable to Chris Minns, NSW Labor Leader:

“The Government has dragged its feet on this for too long.

“We’ve seen time and time again, new areas developed, houses built and people moving in, but the important infrastructure isn’t there.

“And this has flow on effects because it puts pressure on health infrastructure and hospitals in the surrounding areas.”

“I’m determined to fix this. Under Labor I want people to have access to the education and healthcare facilities they deserve and are entitled to as soon as they move in – not years later.

“It’s the least they can expect from their government.”

Quotes attributable to Ryan Park, NSW Shadow Minister for Health:

“Hospitals across Western and South West Sydney are under immense pressure as it is.

“With the population boom, that will only get worse if we don’t start planning now for the future.

“Reassessing this booming community’s needs in 2036 will be just too late, hundreds of thousands of people will already be requiring health services as the Aerotropolis grows.

“That’s why Labor will start the planning now.”

Quotes attributable to Greg Warren, NSW Shadow Minister for Western Sydney:

“The planning for this should have already been done.

“But the truth is Western Sydney has been left behind by the Government.”

Quotes attributable to Sally Quinnell, NSW Labor candidate for Camden:

“Camden residents have been crying out for this Government to build health infrastructure to reflect the unprecedented development.
“The Government is lagging behind in making sure the Camden community has the infrastructure it needs to cope with growth. They’ve let us down.”
Quotes attributable to Nathan Hagarty, NSW Labor Candidate for Leppington Nathan Hagarty:
“Whether it’s health, education or transport, the Liberals have let down local families in Leppington.

“After 12 long years, it’s clear that the NSW Liberals have failed to fix the health crisis in South-West Sydney.

“A Minns Labor Government will get on with the job of providing Leppington and the South West with the infrastructure and services our region needs and deserves.”

CHRIS MINNS MP
NSW LABOR LEADER
 
RYAN PARK MP
NSW SHADOW MINISTER FOR HEALTH
 
GREG WARREN MP
NSW SHADOW MINISTER FOR WESTERN SYDNEY
 
SALLY QUINNELL
NSW LABOR CANDIDATE FOR CAMDEN
 
NATHAN HAGARTY
NSW LABOR CANDIDATE FOR LEPPINGTON