The roll-out of $170 million of new health services for families, including more paediatric operations, children’s allergy testing and free mobile dental checks, form part of today’s Budget.

Treasurer Dominic Perrottet said the health initiatives the NSW Liberals & Nationals announced before the March election are part of a raft of new measures it will deliver over the next term of government to help families.

“We promised to deliver a better quality of life for all citizens no matter where they live or what their circumstances and easing stress around their health needs is key to that pledge,” Mr Perrottet said.

“Whether it’s getting kids in and out of hospital quickly to ease the strain on families, or taking dental checks to them, we are getting it done. Healthy kids are happy kids, and happy kids means happy parents too.

“It is only thanks to the strong economic management of a NSW Liberals & Nationals Government that we can fund these new health programs to support families right across the State.”

Across the next four years, the NSW Government is investing $170 million towards family health programs from pre-conception through to pregnancy, birth, early childhood and formal schooling years.

Health Minister Brad Hazzard said families throughout NSW can expect more hospitals and health facilities to be delivered, staffed by a record workforce and now, additional services are on their way.

“Last Budget we delivered the $157 million Parents Package and now we’re backing-up that effort by fast-tracking our health election commitments to support families even more,” Mr Hazzard said.

“Over the next term, 8,000 additional paediatric operations will ensure children needing surgery are back home with their family faster, while new mobile dental clinics will visit up to 136,000 kids a year.

“Families will also get faster access to allergy testing and management with the State’s largest investment in allergy nurses, allowing families to get the answers and support they need.”

Minister for Mental Health Bronnie Taylor said a $9.6 million boost over four years to medical and mental health support services for those struggling with eating disorders, will also help young people.

“We promised to better support people with eating disorders, particularly teenagers, so the challenges many experience in their youth, don’t go on to become lifelong battles,” Mrs Taylor said.

Some of the family health initiatives featured in the 2019-20 NSW Budget include:

• $70 million over four years to provide 35 new free mobile dental clinics allowing access to dental checks and basic dental care for up to 136,000 primary school children in Western Sydney, Mid North Coast and the Central Coast each year.
• $45 million over four years to deliver an additional 8,000 paediatric operations
• $9.6 million boost over four years to medical and mental health support services for those struggling with eating disorders
• $4.6 million over four years to expand services to reduce waiting times for children’s allergy testing and management.
• $42 million over four years to provide greater choice of IVF services. This will include a rebate of up to $500 for out-of-pocket medical expenses related to pre-IVF fertility testing, the first state-wide fertility preservation service for cancer patients at The Royal Hospital for Women (in partnership with the University of NSW), and the expansion of NSW Government supported clinics to provide lower cost IVF treatments for 6,000 women.