Inquiry sparks big spending on NSW hospitals

The New South Wales government says it will commit nearly $485 million over the next four years in the first stage of its response to a major inquiry that found the state’s public hospital system was in crisis.
 
Peter Garling’s 10-month inquiry made 139 recommendations and Health Minister John Della Bosca, says 134 have been accepted.

The inquiry was set up in January 2008, $176 million will go towards an extra 500 ward-based clinical support officers to free doctors and nurses from the burden of paper work.
 
The NSW government will also provide an extra 20 trainee specialists in outer metropolitan and regional hospitals.

Transport fees for pensioners who have to travel long distances will also be abolished.

The reintroduction of single-sex wards in NSW hospitals  will occur and $12 million will be made available to ensure wherever possible and particularly where it relates to elderly patients, that men and women have their own ward.

The NSW government says the focus of its response is putting patients at the centre of the system.