The NSW state government has announced it will put a record $3 billion dollars of funding into public hospitals in Western Sydney.
The multi-billion dollar investment will be allocated in the state budget for spending on building new hospitals, and upgrading existing hospitals across greater Western Sydney.
It will go towards rebuilding Bankstown-Lidcombe hospital on a new site, building a new hospital in Rouse-Hill, and hundred-million-dollar upgrades of Fairfield and Canterbury Hospitals.
NSW Premier Chris Minns said the investment would deliver "world-class healthcare" for the thousands of people moving into fast-growing parts of Western Sydney each year.
Minns said: "We were elected with a clear mandate to rebuild essential services and invest in our frontline workers."
"Our healthcare system has been under incredible pressure in recent years. Chronic underinvestment by the former Government didn't help."
The government believes the investment will take pressure off the "overwhelmed and underfunded" health system.
What's included in the investment:
The State Government said the $3 Billion dollar investment in the NSW budget will be spent on new and upgraded hospitals in Western Sydney. That will include:
An additional $400 million to go towards a new public hospital in Rouse Hill, including an emergency department, maternity services, ambulance and outpatient care and medical imaging services.
$1.3 billion to be spent rebuilding Bankstown-Lidcombe Hospital on a new site
$550 million for a major redevelopment of Fairfield Hospital
$350 million for a redevelopment of Canterbury Hospital
$120 million for additional beds at Blacktown and Mt Druitt Hospitals
According to the Bureau of Health Information, almost 53,000 patients presented to emergency departments across the Western Sydney Local Health District between April and June.
Only 42 per cent of those patients started their treatment"on time", the data reveals.
Speaking at a press conference alongside Premier Chris Minss, the Minister for Western Sydney Prue Car called Western Sydney the "engine room" for the state's growth, and said "it deserves a proportionate rate of investment in services."
Car said: "After many years of false promises, this historic level of investment by the Minns Labor Government delivers what the community has been crying out for."
Health Minister Ryan Park said that "families living across greater Western Sydney have a right to timely, equitable healthcare and they should have confidence in their local hospitals."