ROYAL HOSPITAL FOR WOMEN’S NEWBORN AND BIRTHING UNITS TO BE EXPANDED

A major infrastructure overhaul for The Royal Hospital for Women (RHW) at Randwick will bring expanded and contemporary care for women and newborns under a re-elected Liberal and National Government.

Premier Dominic Perrottet said the $95 million commitment recognised the increased demands on RHW, which is a state and national leader in the provision of health services to women, newborns and families.

“More than 1,000 babies each year are admitted to the Newborn Care Centre (NCC) with approximately 600 being premature and requiring surgery,” Mr Perrottet said.

“Nearly a third of these tiny babies come from outer metropolitan, regional and rural areas, many spending months in the care of the wonderful staff at the RHW.

“This major investment will significantly upgrade treatment spaces and improve the experience for families, meaning more comfortable sleeping areas, improved privacy and larger spaces to reduce parental stress during this very difficult time.”

The NSW Liberal and Nationals Government is investing a record $11.9 billion to upgrade hospitals and health facilities across NSW over four years to 2025-26.

In addition, a further $1.2 billion is being committed to health infrastructure, which is only possible because of the Liberal and Nationals long-term economic plan to keep NSW moving forward.

Health Minister Brad Hazzard said the upgrade to treatment spaces in the Newborn Care Centre will improve the experience for families, with more space and capacity – meaning fewer babies would need to be transferred to Neonatal Intensive Care Units at other hospitals.

“We want to ensure mums and bubs receive the very best care and that all children get the best start in life possible,” Mr Hazzard said.

“Unlike Labor, every hospital and health facility that our Government has promised to build has been delivered, or is in progress and planning, and under a re-elected Liberal and Nationals Government this project will be delivered too.”

Minister for Women, Regional Health and Mental Health Bronnie Taylor said the RHW maternity service had been under growing demand in recent years, caring for women with increasingly complex pregnancies.

“An additional benefit of the upgrade will be a new Assessment Service area, so that women who may be experiencing miscarriage or obstetric complications during pregnancy can be diverted from the emergency department to a supportive area which meets their emotional and physical needs,” Mrs Taylor said.

“With the birthing unit upgrade, all suites will also include bathing areas, providing more pain relief options for women.”

The purpose-built NCC will enable:

 Improved access to Neonatal Intensive Care Unit beds, as part of the NSW State-wide Perinatal Services Network;
 Improved experience of parents, particularly with regard to privacy, space for belongings and capacity to stay with their babies at all times;
 Improved capacity to flex beds between high acuity and intensive care levels, improving access to care at Royal Hospital for Women and across NSW; and
 More opportunities for researchers to collaborate in local and international clinical trials.

Other investments by the NSW Government in paediatric health care include:

 $658 million Sydney Children’s Hospital Stage 1 and Minderoo Children’s Comprehensive Cancer Centre;
 $632 million Campbelltown Hospital Redevelopment Stage 2, Mental Health and South West Paediatric Service;
 $619 million Children’s Hospital at Westmead Stage 2 Redevelopment;
 Nepean Child & Adolescent Mental Health Service (part of the $700 million Statewide Mental Health Infrastructure Program);
 Mothers and Babies Unit Westmead (part of the $700 million Statewide Mental Health Infrastructure Program);
 $19.5 million Manly Adolescent and Young Adult Hospice; and
 $10 million NSW Paediatric Cardiac Service Enhancement.