The New South Wales (NSW) Government has announced a significant A$3.4bn ($2.2bn) investment for the enhancement of hospital and health facilities across the state in the 2024-25 fiscal year.
This funding allocated under the 2024-25 NSW Budget aims to ensure the delivery of high-quality care within local communities.
The investment includes nearly A$1bn earmarked for rural and regional health capital works, with over $500m allocated to Western Sydney hospitals for the year 2024-25.
Additionally, the government has committed A$47.8m to the upgraded Ryde Hospital, bringing its total investment in this facility redevelopment to A$526.8m.
The Ryde Hospital project will provide enhanced and modernised health services, including a new emergency department, inpatient wards, and imaging and diagnostic facilities.
This is part of a broader strategy to enhance healthcare infrastructure and services for the Ryde community and its surroundings.
Further allocations under the NSW budget for 2024-25 include substantial funding for continued redevelopment at several hospitals. These include redevelopments at Eurobodalla, Temora, Liverpool, the Integrated Mental Health Complex at Westmead, Moree, Nepean, Cessnock, and Shellharbour Hospitals.
A significant portion of the budget, A$265m, will also be dedicated to upgrading Port Macquarie Hospital.
This investment will enable the hospital to offer a wider array of clinical services, such as improved emergency and maternity services, to the Mid-North Coast population.
Moreover, the government announced A$250m funding in a maintenance programme for health facilities across the state.
New South Wales health minister Ryan Park said: “By investing in critical health infrastructure, we will deliver on our promise to provide better healthcare in NSW by expanding health services in these growing communities so patients can access the best medical treatments close to home.
“These infrastructure projects and the range of health services that will be provided from them by our committed and caring health staff will also help attract more healthcare workers to work in these modern and purpose-built healthcare facilities across NSW.”
Prior to this development, the NSW Government announced an emergency department relief package worth A$480.7m ($316.2m) to reduce the annual number of visits to hospitals in the state.
