$900 MILLION IN HEALTH CAPITAL WORKS FOR THE BUSH

More than a third of the record health infrastructure spend in the 2020-21 NSW Budget will go to regional and rural areas, with $900 million allocated for new and upgraded regional hospitals and health facilities.

The investment comes on top of recurrent funding of $26.4 billion.

Deputy Premier John Barilaro and Minister for Health Brad Hazzard announced several new and upgraded health capital works projects would get underway in the Budget, including Shellharbour Hospital, Shoalhaven and Eurobodalla.

"We're building a better NSW and investing in our people and our future by delivering quality services for everyone in NSW," Mr Barilaro said.

"No corner of the state will be left wanting when it comes to health facilities, thanks to the NSW Government's record $10.7 billion health infrastructure pipeline over the next four years.

"Of the 47 NSW hospital redevelopments or upgrades underway or set to commence in 2020-21, nearly two-thirds are located in rural and regional parts of NSW."

Mr Hazzard said the NSW Government's investment would not only delivering health care to the bush but also create and support tens of thousands of jobs across the state, stimulating local economies and attracting medical staff to regional areas.

"From the Tweed to Eurobodalla and out to Cowra, the 2020-21 NSW Budget highlights the extent to which the NSW Government is delivering on health capital works in regional and rural areas," Mr Hazzard said.

"This is a capital investment budget for the health of the bush."

This includes:

·     More than $72 million for the new Tweed Hospital Redevelopment, at an estimated total cost of more than $673 million;

·     More than $10 million for the new Shellharbour Hospital, at an estimated cost of almost $699 million;

·     $10 million to commence the Eurobodalla Health Service redevelopment, at an estimated total cost of $200 million;

·     More than $611 million to continue investment in Coffs Harbour, Dubbo, Inverell, Goulburn, Griffith, Lismore, New Maitland, Tumut, Wagga Wagga, and Wyong hospitals;

·     $4 million for a new MRI service at Bathurst Hospital;

·     Commencement of hospital redevelopments in Cowra, Glen Innes, Manning Stage 2 and Shoalhaven; and

·     Progress planning for future commitments, including hospital and health facilities in Forster-Tuncurry, Grafton, Gunnedah and Moree.

In addition to these hospital upgrades or redevelopments, this investment includes funding to continue delivering the Multipurpose Services (MPS) and Rural Ambulance Infrastructure Reconfiguration programs.

More than $33 million will go towards the ongoing development of Multipurpose Services for health and aged care in small and remote rural communities as part of the $297 million MPS program.

The Rural Ambulance Reconfiguration Program will receive more than $7 million to continue the first stage, at an estimated cost of more than $122 million. The program will also receive more than $18 million towards Stage 2, at an estimated total cost of $100 million.