NSW Hospitals: why leadership dialogue, Mark Latham are calling for new Aerotropolis hospital
Political leaders are calling for a new public hospital to be based out for the Western Sydney Aerotropolis as population booms in the major growth region. SEE THEIR DEMANDS HERE.
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Leaders are calling for a new local health district to be set up in Western Sydney to deal with population booms surrounding the Aerotropolis.
The calls for increased health provision across southwest Sydney hospitals by Western Sydney Leadership Dialogue executive director, Adam Leto, comes after The Daily Telegraph revealed residents in Sydney’s southwest are budgeted $800 less each year in hospital funding than their neighbours in the Sydney Local Health District as part of The Great Divide health campaign.
In the submission into the NSW Parliamentary Inquiry into health provisions across greater Western Sydney, the leadership dialogue director said whether the population doubles or triples by 2050, “the demand for services and infrastructure will have made a disruptive, quantum leap”.
THE GREAT DIVIDE — SYDNEY’S HEALTH STORY
Part One: Why south west patients are funded $800 less per person
Part Two: Why south west patients are forced to travel hours for treatment
Part Three: Why leaders are calling for a new hospital at Aerotropolis
Mr Leto said NSW Health would be forced to focus health resources in Campbelltown and Bankstown as recent population and development pressures “outpaced infrastructure”.
“On sheer projected population numbers there certainly is a strong case to start planning now for a whole new hospital and even entire health precinct within the South West Sydney Growth Region, to directly service the Aerotropolis,” Mr Leto said.
“Existing health hubs like Campbelltown, Bankstown-Lidcombe and Liverpool Hospitals are all currently undergoing upgrades, but infrastructure can only be expanded, and their allied health services radiated outwards so far, before the cost-benefit begins to diminish.”
More than 1.5 million people are expected to move into the South West Sydney Growth Region over the next 20 years, as the Western Sydney Aerotropolis takes shape.
Mr Leto said helath infrastructure investment across western SYdney was welcomed, “but given the growth in numbers the south-west is set to experience, more is going to be needed in order to keep pace with the population”.
“Our hospitals are not just providing vital community care, but are also one of the region’s biggest employers,” he said.
“More and more we’re seeing their potential as an major economic catalyst – especially through their links with universities, TAFE, industry and research groups.
“These health and education precincts that are developing in Liverpool, Campbelltown and Bankstown have a big part to play in providing the region’s smart jobs of the future.”
His calls have been echoed by NSW Upper House by One Nation MLC Mark Latham, who told the inquiry the NSW Government had failed to identify land in the Aerotropolis for a new hospital.
“It is estimated that 1.3 million people will live west of the M7 in outer-western Sydney — the same population as Adelaide,” Mr Latham said.
“Adelaide has four public hospitals yet out region, seemingly, will have none.
“An opportunity is being missed, linking a new hospital to health export income opportunities at Badgerys Creek Airport, and also to consider the need for a third Children’s Hospital in Sydney, located in outer-western Sydney.”
Mr Latham said the pressure on existing hospital, including Nepean, Liverpool and Campbelltown to fill patient servicing gaps “will be enormous”.
A NSW Health spokeswoman told The Daily Telegraph said Local Health Districts including Nepean Blue Mountains, Western Sydney and South West Sydney have recieved over $2.2 billion in funding over the past five years, “with a further $3.5billion to be invested in this current term of government”.
“In regards to the Aerotropolis, the current substantial investment in Western Sydney will meet the growth in demand for hospital services to approximately 2036,” the spokeswoman said.
“NSW Health will continue to consider any future development of existing hospitals.”