Premier highlights health budget's jobs and services

18 June 2009

Premier Nathan Rees said today that the 2009 Budget’s support of 160,000 jobs and commitment to better services was demonstrated by the record spend on health infrastructure and services.

The Premier and Health Minister John Della Bosca were joined by local MPs Paul Lynch and Alison Megarrity today to meet some of the 300 construction workers on site at the $394 million Liverpool Hospital redevelopment.

“Our $62.9 billion dollar works program has thousands of projects already underway and they are delivering jobs across NSW,” said Mr Rees.

“Liverpool Hospital is a perfect example of our bold plans to stimulate the construction industry and provide better services to NSW.

“The $135 million second stage upgrade will make Liverpool the largest tertiary health facility in NSW.

“This project delivers a new clinical services block including high dependency, maternity, medical, non-acute, paediatric inpatient and surgical services and it is on track for completion in 2011.

“Those facilities will accommodate 855 beds including 60 ICU beds, 23 operating theatres, a new ambulatory care centre and diagnostic and treatment centre.

“Stage two construction works also include doubling the size of the existing clinical services block to include a psychiatric emergency care centre and extension and refurbishment of cancer services.

The Premier also highlighted additional health services funded in the budget with the roll out of an extra 7,900 community-based residential and aged care places in 2009-10.

“Hundreds of patients across the State will benefit from this program which frees up hospital beds while providing a world class service to patients in their own homes.

“Community Acute/Post Acute Care places allow patients to be treated for non-emergency conditions at home by health staff including nurses.

“Elderly patients and people with orthopaedic conditions such as post hip, knee and shoulder surgery and chronic medical conditions such as respiratory illness or heart disease are some of the targeted conditions for at home care.

“Patients receive the health support they need in the comfort of their own home and Emergency Department doctors and nurses are freed up for emergency cases,” Mr Rees said.

MPs say the project has had widespread consultation and support.

“NSW Health has undertaken extensive consultation with user groups, holding more than 350 meetings to discuss schematic design, models of care, operational policy, standards and guidelines,” said Ms Megarrity.

“We will have a user-friendly hospital which will set the benchmark for future hospital redevelopments across the state,” she said.

Paul Lynch, Member for Liverpool also welcomed the measures to protect jobs and invest in a world class hospital.

“The demand for health services is increasing and the new Liverpool Hospital and its hard working staff are being given the resources to deliver those services,” Mr Lynch said.

Among the new workers involved in Stage two construction is 17-year-old carpentry apprentice and indigenous Australian John Mango.

“I’m studying carpentry at Chullora TAFE and hope to one day become a construction site foreman,” he added.

The Liverpool Hospital redevelopment is meeting all of its project milestones including:

• Completion of basement and ground floor slabs and 75% of first floor slab;
• Ancillary works progressing with vehicle and pedestrian bridges construction underway; and
• Work has begun on 10 new lift shafts.