“I welcome the review and its recommendations to NSW Health about how to best deliver health services for our children across the state.

“Much of recent commentary has been focused on the specialist Randwick and Westmead children’s hospitals.

“However, the review is a timely reminder that our suburban and regional hospitals account for 80 per cent of emergency department presentations of children. The review signals better services for those children and all children across NSW.

“We are fortunate in NSW to have a range of hospitals including John Hunter at Newcastle delivering paediatric services.

“In Sydney we also have two world-class children’s hospitals and the Henry Review recommended that tertiary and quaternary services be maintained at both Randwick and Westmead.

“NSW Health has determined that paediatric cardiac surgery and cardiology will be delivered at the networked Westmead and Randwick campuses.

“To facilitate NSW Health’s decision, the NSW Government will ensure additional funding of up to $10 million for equipment and infrastructure to ensure specialists are further assisted in delivering paediatric cardiac services.

“A new Chair of the SCHN Board will be announced in coming weeks, and the Board will recruit a new chief executive responsible for developing a clinical services plan.

“I would urge the clinicians at both the hospitals to put aside past differences and work constructively to ensure the success of our two Sydney children’s hospitals which serve our sickest children.”