Mr Stoner announced in Queanbeyan the details today of 21 projects that will be funded as part of rural minor works initiatives, which will provide benefits right across rural and remote NSW.

“Boosting investment in rural and regional NSW is a priority of this Government,” Mr Stoner said. “We’re getting on with fixing the hospitals right across the state.

“Patients, doctors, nurses and communities in regional NSW will benefit from better facilities and better services.”

Mrs Skinner said the NSW Government is committed to improving access to health services right across NSW, no matter where people live.

“Investing in health infrastructure is all about improving services for patients,” Mrs Skinner said.

“I’ve spent a lot of time visiting hospitals in every corner of the state listening to patients and clinicians, and I have seen first-hand that this investment is needed.

“By improving our regional health facilities we will also make our hospitals more attractive for doctors, nurses and allied health professionals to stay in regional NSW.

“Regional NSW is a priority of the Government, in fact my first hospital visit as Health Minister was in regional NSW,” she said.

Projects to be delivered over the next three years include:

• Bellingen River District Hospital - reconfiguration and upgrade to the emergency department and ambulance area.

• Boggabri Multipurpose Service - $300,000 to provide additional consulting rooms and a new day care centre to support increased General Practitioner, ambulatory care and aged care services.

• Braidwood Multipurpose Service - $450,000 to upgrade the infrastructure to improve patient amenities and support enhanced primary and community health services.

• Broken Hill Health Service – refurbishment of the staff quarters at Broken Hill Health Service.

• Condobolin Health Service – refurbishment of the emergency department

• Deniliquin Health Service - relocation of maternity services to the main building.

• Dorrigo Multipurpose Service - upgrade and expansion of the community health building to accommodate additional community health services.

• Glen Innes District Hospital – capital improvements to enhance staff and patient security, disability access, infection prevention and control.

• Goulburn Base Hospital – capital improvements to expand the emergency department and enhance storage and patient accommodation capacity in the medical and surgical ward.

• Griffith Base Hospital – upgrade and reconfiguration of the maternity ward to provide modern birthing facilities and improved staff amenities.

• Gunnedah Health Service – reconfiguration of work spaces in ambulatory care to improve the delivery of primary and community health services.

• Ivanhoe Health Service - $590,000 to build a new emergency service facility linked to the existing Ivanhoe Health Service.

• Ivanhoe, Menindee and Wilcannia Health Service – refurbishment of existing staff accommodation and construction of additional accommodation at Menindee and Wilcannia.

• Kempsey District Hospital - upgrade and expansion of the renal dialysis unit.

• Milton Ulladulla Hospital - $102,900 to install a new duress alarm system to improve patient and staff security.

• Murwillumbah District Hospital – emergency department upgrade and reconfiguration of the medical ward to accommodate palliative care beds.

• Shoalhaven District Memorial Hospital – $72,000 to purchase gastro-videoscopes for operating theatres.

• Singleton District Hospital - $550,000 to build new staff accommodation on campus.

• Tocumwal Health Service – capital improvements to patient amenities and construction of a covered secure link to the adjacent Tocumwal Lions Community Hostel.

• Wauchope District Memorial Hospital - $190,000 to upgrade the X-Ray department.