Glen Innes Hospital has been identified as a “ghost hospital” which did not have enough staff to run it, but this will be rectified under the health investments being announced in the run up to the NSW Budget to be handed down on June 18.
The Minns Labor Government have announced that they are investing $274 million to boost staffing at new and upgraded hospitals across the state as part of the 2024-25 NSW Budget.
Glen Innes Hospital has been specifically named in the announcement as a hospital set to benefit, along with the new Tweed Hospital, Bowral, Sutherland, Wentworth, Cowra, Cooma, and Griffith hospitals. The aging Prince of Wales hospital in Randwick has also been ear-marked for investment in today’s announcement.
The Essential Health Services Fund will see an additional 250 healthcare workers engaged to work at these new and upgraded hospitals. The work on the $50m redevelopment of the Glen Innes Hospital began last year with plans being released last month.
The additional staff will be deployed at hospitals due to come online in the next financial year and will deliver additional services to communities with growing and aging populations.
Funding will also be provided across the State to increased demands from health services resulting from an ageing and growing population.
“I’ve always said that there’s no point in delivering shiny new buildings if you don’t have the staff to adequately run them,” Minister for Health Ryan Park said.
“We can’t risk the situation left to us by the previous Government of ‘ghost hospitals’ where funding was allocated for the bricks and mortar but not the additional health workers, nurses and doctors to operationalise services.
“We need a fully staffed healthcare system that is responsive and well-resourced, because when we back in our health workers, we improve patient outcomes, and that’s exactly what we’re doing.”
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