The NSW Liberal government has promised a further $55 million for Bowral and District Hospital.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The latest cash injection brings the total promised to the hospital to $120million.
The announcement comes two weeks before the state election.
Minister for health Brad Hazzard said this new investment by the NSW Liberals & Nationals Government would also contribute to growing the NSW economy and was projected to create around 550 jobs.
"Bowral and District Hospital will be a $120 million hospital," he said.
"That means all the work in addition to all the work that is going on here to improve emergency and other services, [means] there is now an opportunity for all the doctors and nurses to go back and look at all their clinical service plans to expand to determine what other services are appropriate.
The funding will go towards a proposed new hospital building.
Liberal candidate for Wollondilly, Nathaniel Smith, said that the funding would attract more staff and ease the understaffed hospital as more nurses would be inclined to move to a newly renovated hospital.
"With this funding being announced, I believe that the new hospital will attract more staff, it's a beautiful place to live and it's a beautiful place to work," he said.
When asked about increasing patient to nurse ratios and patient illness, Mr Smith said that the new funding would create more services for patients in the Southern Highlands instead of going to Campbelltown or Liverpool Hospital.
"Obviously, having more wards here and more services, people can feel comfortable and feel certain that they can be treated here close to home with their families".
Mr Smith also shared his views on improving parking around the hospital, admitting that parking was an issue.
"That's something we will have discussions with council and try and work out a better system. Parking is an issue around here, it's an issue around every hospital but we are doing the best we can to work with council."
Edna Carmichael from Public Health First said that the announcement was too late.
"I think this is another buy, I think it's the Liberal cabinet that hasn't listened to the community over the last few years about the hospital needing funding and now it's a desperate Liberal party trying to save the seat and buy votes," she said
However, Edna welcomed the much needed funding.
"We have to welcome the money because we've been pushing for funding for stage 2 and this is what this commitment is for.
"I think there is a misunderstanding about the concept of stage in view of what the emergency doctor said about clinical services because stage 2 was designated as accommodation.
"At this point, unless it includes an increase in clinical services, it will still mean that patients that present themselves as seriously ill will still be taken to Liverpool or Campbelltown Hospital.
"That sadly is something we've been fighting to address with the minister and local health district and we haven't got very far with that. But if the announcement of the money was to improve clinical services that would be wonderful."
In addition to new facilities, South Western Sydney LHD will benefit from an additional 822 new staff including 114 doctors, 502 nurses and midwives, 96 allied health staff and 110 hospital support workers.
Read Also: High fire danger for the Wingecarribee