THE STARTING POINT

- In the past 10 years all major teaching hospitals have been upgraded or rebuilt.

- Major regional hospitals have been rebuilt including Broken Hill, Coffs Harbour and Tweed Heads.

- Small country hospitals have been reshaped through the multi-purpose service programs with 36 sites at the end of Phase 3 of the Rural Hospital and Health Services Program. These services better integrate aged care and acute services, with contemporary use of health technology.

- Major work on emergency departments and intensive care units which have been upgraded or expanded across the state.

- A particular focus on neo-natal and paediatric intensive care units support with 12 neonatal intensive care beds, four paediatric intensive care beds, 23 special care beds and six ventilator transition beds opened since 2003-04.

- Large spend in keeping people out of hospital and using new technologies to provide care in the community or at home, in renal and cancer care especially.

- A major focus on mental health with 285 mental health beds made available since June 2001, resulting in increased access to inpatient mental health care for children and adolescents, as well as adults in both rural and metropolitan areas.

- A major upgrade of information technology, including patient and clinical administration systems is underway.

QUEANBEYAN