THERE are local health sector implications in the NSW Budget, though no direct funding has been allocated for new projects in the Hawkesbury.
Nepean Hospital, one of the closest major hospitals for Hawkesbury residents, will receive $70 million in funding in the 2018-19 Budget, as part of an estimated spend of $550 million in total.
The money will go toward previously-announced plans to expand the emergency department of the hospital, as well as installing a new helipad and new operating theatres. The hospital will also receive new a clinical services block, birthing suites and an expanded Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.
The government has also allocated $75 million for land acquisition for a new health service at Rouse Hill.
Other measures in the budget include $700 million to spent delivering the Statewide Mental Health Infrastructure program, with $20 million allocated for this year.
The Blacktown and Mount Druitt Hospitals Redevelopment will continue, with just over $90 million allocated for 2018-19.
The redevelopment will see a new emergency department, expenaded inpatient care along with expanded surgical services and interventional services, including a new digital theatre, new cancer facilities community dialysis and drug health and imaging services.
The progam, according to the government, will provide "speciliast beds to enable the government's decade long, whole-of-government reform of mental health care and aims to bring more care out of hospitals and into the community".
The program aims to provide more acute mental health units for children, teenagers, the elderly, mothers and their babies.
It will deliver "step-up step-down community based beds" to support long stay patients after they leave hospital, and aim to improve the Forensic Mental Health system to provide more beds.
There is also funding for a number of car park upgrades at hospitals, including at Campbelltown, Blacktown, Nepean and Westmead with $22.1 million, $2.3 million, $24 million and $5.7 million allocated respectively for the 2018-19 year.