The NSW premier has vowed to make Western Sydney hospitals a “hell of a lot better,” saying the current offering “hasn’t been good enough”.
However, Chris Minns again dismissed opposition calls for an inquiry into the region’s hospitals, saying he believed the public wanted the government to “get on with it”.
The premier made the comments while unveiling new artist’s impression of the $2 billion Bankstown Hospital, which is due for completion in 2031.
The plan to redevelop Bankstown Hospital was announced by the Berejiklian government. (Supplied: NSW government)
The hospital project was first announced by the Berejiklian government in 2019, however the site was not finalised until this year.
The Minns government committed a further $700 million towards the hospital in the June budget and has allocated $100 million to relocate the TAFE, which currently occupies the site.
The premier said the hospital represented the largest single public works investment in the health portfolio.
“We know that health services in Western Sydney have not kept up with the population, whether it’s in Mount Druitt, Blacktown, Rouse Hill or … here in Bankstown,” Mr Minns said.
“We want to get a hell of a lot better, [but] that can only happen with investment and time.”
Health Minister Ryan Park said the new hospital would be a “jewel in the crown”, with construction due to begin next year.
“This hospital will see an expansion of the emergency department,” Mr Park said.
“And it will see an expansion of operating theatres, of clinical spaces, a mental health facility, a new area … for mums and bubs and birthing services,” he said.
Ryan Park says the hospital will see an expansion of the emergency department. (ABC News: Nandini Dhir)
A system under strain
The latest data from the Bureau of Health Information shows Western Sydney hospitals under continued strain between April and June.
At Blacktown Hospital, the median time spent in the emergency department was five hours and 22 minutes, while one in 10 patients spent more than 19 hours there.
Patients at Westmead Hospital spent a median six hours and 12 minutes in the emergency department, while one in 10 spent more than 20 hours there.
The existing Bankstown-Lidcombe Hospital recorded better results, with a median three hours and 43 minutes spent in the emergency department.
However, just over one in two patients started their treatment on time.
Data revealed Westmead Hospital was among several hospitals in Western Sydney under strain. (ABC News: Jak Rowland)
Nicole Delaat, an emergency physician at Bankstown-Lidcombe, said the hospital often felt “packed to the rafters”.
“We’ve put our heart and soul into our work this winter, and it’s just felt really overwhelming and busy at times,” Dr Delaat said.
“So, this new facility really represents us being able to work in a bigger and better environment.”
The government said Western Sydney hospitals had seen some reductions in “ramping” — a practice that ties up paramedics while they wait to transfer patients into busy emergency departments.
For example, at Bankstown-Lidcombe, 86 per cent of patients were transferred from paramedics to ED staff within 30 minutes, an improvement of 10 percentage points from the same time last year.
Mr Minns said improvements were “slow going” but the government was “turning the dial”.
Opposition continues calls for inquiry
The opposition said the government’s announcement about the new Bankstown Hospital offered little more than “pretty pictures”.
Opposition Leader Mark Speakman said the premier should have instead announced an inquiry into Western Sydney hospitals, which he said were delivering “horror story after horror story”.
New data reveals two Western Sydney hospitals rank lower than average
The premier said such an investigation was unnecessary because there had already been a special commission of inquiry into hospital funding.
“My sense is the public wants us to get on with it, and they want whatever funds and whatever resources that can be deployed put directly onto the front lines,” Mr Minns said.
However, Mr Speakman said that commission of inquiry was not focused on Western Sydney hospitals.
“What does Chris Minns have to hide when it comes to Western Sydney hospitals?” he said.
Shadow health minister Kellie Sloane said “horror stories”, including those of patients sleeping on the floor, deserved proper investigation.
“[The premier] is using excuses. He is sidestepping,” Ms Sloane said.
“The people of Western Sydney deserve so much better than that.”