The NSW Minister for Health greeted clinicians and staff at Blacktown to announce the first look at a $120 million upgrade to Blacktown and Mount Druitt Hospitals.
The media conference was brimming with local members keen to show their support and solidarity for Blacktown Hospital and the broader Western Sydney Local Health District.
NSW Health Minister Ryan Park, Member for Blacktown Stephen Bali, Member for Mount Druitt Edmond Atalla, Member for Prospect Hugh McDermott and the NSW Health Secretary Susan Pearce stood side by side with clinicians and staff for the announcement.
The 60 beds announced, across Blacktown and Mount Druitt Hospitals, will increase capacity with construction expected to begin next year.
Minister Park also took the opportunity to praise the staff of Blacktown Hospital, noting the huge demand particularly on the Emergency Department (ED).
“Blacktown ED is an emergency department that, incredibly, in the last quarter, saw around 16,000 presentations,” Minister Park said.
“What the men and women across the floors of this hospital are doing right now, are achieving an enormous amount in the delivery of healthcare while still facing challenges in terms of the growth in population,” Minister Park said.
Noting complaints and frustrations, the Minister offered apologies but also acknowledgement.
“When a family feels as though we’ve let them down, I obviously apologize but I also want to acknowledge when our team’s done really well too,” Minister Park said.
Blacktown Hospital’s Dr Maria Buenaventura described the impact of the $120 million investment, saying it enables ‘personalised’ care for local families.
“The size of the rooms is important, it enables us to care for our patients in a much more culturally appropriate way, knowing that the patients in our local community are part of larger family units,” Maria said.
Echoing calls and support for the hospital, as someone who has grown up in the local area, she says the work she does at the hospital is very personal.
“I’ve chosen to give back to the people and to the community that has helped to raise me,” Maria said.
“It’s more than just a job, it is actually about improving lives,” Maria said.