NSW Premier Chris Minns was in Campbelltown yesterday to officially announce a $35 million investment in an integrated health hub – the first of its kind in the state.
Earlier this year the Minns Government – which will face the voters at an election next March – revealed plans for another health hub in Wilton.
“The two hubs are designed to take pressure off two of Australia’s busiest hospitals, at Liverpool and here, of course, at Campbelltown,’’ explained health minister Ryan Park, who joined Mr Minns and local MPs for the announcement at Campbelltown Hospital.
There’s no premises yet, and no timeline when these hubs will be up and running.
However, the health minister told the media “a site soon to be selected in the Campbelltown CBD,’’ when asked when it would be up and running and where
He was also asked what health services would be on offer at the health hubs.
“The hub will be a focus around primary healthcare services and GPs. It will also have procedural rooms for things like endoscopies,’’ the minister said.
“It’ll have child and family health care services there, as well as outpatient clinics, in particular, eye and optical outpatient clinics for patients, all designed for patients to be able to use another facility other than always having to have services done here at the hospital.’’
Mr Park said it was expected hundreds of people would use the services on offer at the Campbelltown hub.
“Often they’re for people with things like diabetes, so that don’t always need chronic disease management but don’t always need to be taken into the hospital,’’ he said.
“We want to be able to get those people out, take pressure off the hospital and at the same time have the hospital focusing on acute services, which is what they’re designed and funded to do.’’
South Western Sydney Local Health District chief executive Sonia Marshall said the Integrated Health Hub at Campbelltown will combine community, outpatient and virtual healthcare services in an accessible CBD location and focus on prevention, early intervention and chronic disease management.
“This will enable hospitals, particularly Campbelltown Hospital, to focus on higher acuity and more complex care.’’
