The Minns Labor Government is delivering on its election commitment to begin the long-term repair and structural reform of the delivery of health care services across New South Wales, by rebuilding our essential health services, reinvesting in frontline health workers and improving access to care.
Rebuilding our Essential Workforce
The 2023-24 NSW Budget will invest more than $2.5 billion over four years in the State’s frontline healthcare workforce to recruit and retain more skilled paramedics, nurses, midwives, allied health workers and clinicians.
This includes:
- The largest pay increase in more than a decade for New South Wales health workers to recruit and retain more workers and help improve the services we rely on.
- $438.6 million will be invested in recruiting an extra 500 rural and regional paramedics to address the shortage of first responders and improve ambulance response times.
- $419.1 million to deliver the first steps towards Safe Staffing Levels in NSW Hospitals to recruit an extra 1,200 nurses and midwives and help address the shortage of nurses.
- $572.3 million to save the jobs of 1,112 nurses and midwives that were left unfunded by the former government.
- $170.8 million which will see more than 50,000 healthcare workers increase their take-home aftertax pay through better salary packaging.
- $121.9 million over five years will go towards study subsidies for health workers to ensure we continue attracting graduates to the profession.
Everyone deserves world class healthcare. To deliver better healthcare in New South Wales, we need to respect and reward nurses, paramedics, and healthcare workers in our hospitals and health facilities.
Investing in Health Infrastructure
The 2023-24 Budget includes a significant investment of $13.8 billion over four years for new and upgraded hospitals across the State, including one of the largest investments in Western Sydney health infrastructure in recent memory.
The Essential Infrastructure Plan includes:
- 600 new beds in Western Sydney Hospitals.
- $120 million for expansion of Blacktown and Mount Druitt Hospital to increase bed capacity.
- $190 million for upgrades to Royal Prince Alfred Hospital.
- $350 million to expand Canterbury Hospital and upgrade existing infrastructure.
- $550 million for expansion of Fairfield Hospital to deliver more beds, increase capacity of the emergency and critical care services, and expand other hospital and community health services.
- An additional $400 million to build the new $700 million Rouse Hill Hospital with additional services.
- $1.3 billion to rebuild Bankstown Hospital on a new site to meet growing needs of the community.
In regional communities, the Minns Labor Government is investing $3.8 billion in new and upgraded health facilities, including:
- $7.5 million for the Milton Ulladulla Hospital and upgrades to the Community Cancer Service Centre.
- $200 million for the Bathurst Hospital redevelopment to serve the Central West.
- $260 million for a new Eurobodalla Hospital to deliver a sustainable, modern and purpose-built facility.
- $538 million for Albury Wodonga Regional Hospital to provide safe and contemporary facilities for the best care for the cross-border community.
The Minns Labor Government is also delivering free parking at rural and regional hospitals at a cost of $19 million.
Improving access to care
Women will have better access to quality care with more than $100 million invested in women’s healthcare services.
This includes:
- $34.3 million to support 20 women’s healthcare centres across the State to continue delivering essential care.
- $52.7 million will fund 48 new Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners and forensic staff.
- The incredible work of the McGrath Foundation will be supported with $18.6 million to fund 29 new and 8 existing breast care nurses.
- $7.3 million to support pharmacists to treat uncomplicated urinary tract infections and prescribe the contraceptive pill, saving women unnecessary visits to the GP.
Rebuilding the essential services for the people of New South Wales
The people of NSW have a right to quality healthcare.
The Minns Labor Government is setting out a long-term plan to repair the budget so we can deliver essential healthcare services for families across New South Wales, reduce waiting times and improving access to timely, high-quality healthcare.
