Campbelltown Hospital: Push for better paediatric services for south western Sydney

South western Sydney residents are being forced to seek paediatric services as far away as Randwick due to a lack of facilities, according to two local politicians.

Children in south western Sydney and their parents are being forced to travel long distances for specialist care due to a lack of paediatric services available, according to local politicians.

Despite an upper house inquiry in 2020 recommending paediatric surgery and subspecialties be explored for Campbelltown Hospital, it has not come to fruition, meaning ill children need to travel to Randwick or Westmead for care.

And, with the region tipped to see a 27 per cent population boom in the next decade, Macarthur Labor politicians have called for the government to act now.

But, Campbelltown MP Greg Warren said the NSW Government had remained “coy” regarding the issue to date.

“Children in Macarthur should not be forced to travel to Westmead or Randwick for treatment or surgery,” Mr Warren said.

“It’s not only a burden on those children, it’s also a burden on their parents and carers.

“Campbelltown and the wider Macarthur region are in the midst of a population boom and we need to make sure services – particular health services – keep pace with that increase in population.”

Greg Warren outside Campbelltown Hospital.

Mr Warren said the government should investigate establishing paediatric services and paediatric subspecialties.

“It would make an enormous difference to many children with significant illnesses or conditions, as well as their loved ones,” he said.

In late 2021, it was revealed that over the next 10 years, the Macarthur region is forecast to grow by 27 per cent – making it almost the size of Canberra’s population.

Macarthur MP Mike Freelander said there are significant impacts on the families and children who have to travel to access higher levels of care.

The paediatrician explained it often means that one parent cannot work because they have to travel to health services.

Pictured outside Campbelltown Hospital is Macarthur federal Labor MP Dr Mike Freelander. Picture: Richard Dobson

“This can also have a huge financial impact because it can reduce two-income families to one,” he said.

“It just places an extra burden on these families.”

Dr Freelander said while there is some capacity for paediatric surgery at Campbelltown Hospital, it needed to be expanded.

However, he said it was not just a matter of putting on an extra surgeon.

“It means getting the proper-trained nursing staff, anaesthetics, allied health staff and follow-up services,” Dr Freelander said.

“We have been trying very hard to upgrade the services we offer at Campbelltown Hospital for the Macarthur area and surrounds but it has been difficult to attract sub-specialists.

“It’s not just been government, it’s been a lack of commitment from the department of health and failure of the large paediatric teaching hospitals to provide outreach services.”

The new Campbelltown Hospital redevelopment is nearing completion. Picture: Toby Zerna

Dr Freelander said he would like to see all relevant stakeholders come to the table to address the problem, especially considering how rapidly the region was expanding.

“As the population grows, we need to have the health services here to meet them,” he said.

“There’s been a lack of funding for other paediatric services like the child development unit which has a year-long waiting list for assessments for kids with development issues like autism.

“Which means they cannot access proper NSDIS.”

The Macarthur Chronicle asked the Southwest Sydney Local Health District how many children are admitted to Campbelltown Hospital daily, what hospitals are children from the Macarthur region sent to if needing surgery and how many are transferred to Randwick or Westmead due to a need for higher levels of care.

No response to these questions was provided.

Picture: Toby Zerna

However, a spokesman said that children across south western Sydney will receive a greater range of surgical, medical and outpatient services as part of the $632 million stage two Campbelltown Hospital redevelopment.

“The further enhancement of paediatric surgery is included in one of the largest health infrastructure projects in the state, while the hospital’s new paediatrics precinct will also include close observation beds for more seriously ill children so they can be cared for closer to home,” the spokesman said.

“Other enhancements for children in the redevelopment include a new Paediatric Allied Health outpatient clinic with specialist therapy teams to treat children with disabilities such as cerebral palsy or developmental delays, and a new special care nursery.”

The spokesman said Campbelltown Hospital will continue to work collaboratively with the Sydney Children’s Hospitals Network for the very small cohort, less than one per cent, of critically ill children requiring highly specialised intensive care.

“Children requiring brain scans and some cancer treatments, as well as cardiology services, receive them at the hospital, reducing the need for transfer,” the spokesman said.

The Macarthur Chronicle contacted the Health Minister, but Brad Hazzard’s office did not respond to questions.