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PDF printable version of Major New Hospital for South East NSW (PDF 19 KB)

The Hon Wayne Swan MP
Deputy Prime Minister and Treasurer

The Hon Nicola Roxon MP
Minister for Health and Ageing

The Hon Dr Mike Kelly AM MP
Federal Member for Eden-Monaro


9 May 2011

NSW South Coast residents will benefit from national health reform with today’s announcement that the Gillard Government will fund $160.1 million for the new South East Regional Hospital based in Bega.

Deputy Prime Minister and Treasurer Wayne Swan said the new hospital will greatly improve access to quality health care, while also stimulating the local economy and creating jobs.

“Finding room in this very responsible Budget for expanded health services has been difficult, but shows what a high priority it is for the Gillard Government,’’ Mr Swan said.

Minister for Health and Ageing, Nicola Roxon, who was joined by local Member for Eden-Monaro, Mike Kelly, said today that the Government will provide funding for a new facility that will provide expanded services to the communities of South Eastern NSW replacing the existing regional hospital.

“Helping people to access healthcare when and where they need it is a priority for national health reform,” Minister Roxon said.

“The new South East Regional Hospital will have expanded capacity and will deliver more health services to the community and that is great news for patients and their families,” said Ms Roxon.

“The expanded range of services includes:

• An increase in the number of beds from 95 to 136 – 122 overnight beds and 14 day only,
• An expanded emergency department,
• Retention of a stand alone Community Health Centre in Pambula,
• A regional inpatient mental health service,
• A range of clinical support services on a single site including medical imaging, pharmacy and pathology.”

Member for Eden-Monaro Mike Kelly said this was great news for the local community and that he had been delighted to be a part of the push for better and expanded health services.

“Today’s announcement by the Gillard Government is one of the most significant expansions ever of local health services and it will mean more beds and more services and that’s great for the community of the South Coast,” said Dr Kelly.

Ms Roxon said this investment in South East NSW was a demonstration of the Gillard Government’s commitment to improving health and hospital facilities in rural and regional Australia.

“I thank the Member for Eden-Monaro for his efforts in making this important new facility a reality for the communities of South East NSW,” Minister Roxon said.

Minister Roxon said the had been selected by the Government for funding through the Health and Hospitals Fund (HHF) regional priority round, from the applications assessed by the independent HHF Advisory Board as satisfying the funding requirements. The NSW Government has also agreed to commit $10 million of the $170.1 million to this important project.

“I also thank NSW Health Minister Jillian Skinner for confirming the NSW State Government contribution of $10 million which will ensure the hospital can provide high quality services across the health care spectrum.”

“This funding comes from the dedicated regional round of the Health and Hospitals fund. The Government has committed $5 billion to the HHF as part of its national health reform agenda,” Minister Roxon said.

Media Contacts:
Deputy Prime Minister: 02 6277 7340
Minister Roxon: 02 6277 7220