NSW Health has today released the findings of an independent review into children’s health services in NSW by Emeritus Professor Richard Henry AM, now available on the NSW Health website. The Review made 77 recommendations to NSW Health, relating to all health services and clinicians delivering care for children.
NSW Health Deputy Secretary, Health System Strategy and Planning, Dr Nigel Lyons, said NSW Health is firmly committed to having two networked world-class children’s hospitals in Sydney, and the continuation of the excellent paediatric services at John Hunter Hospital in Newcastle.
Further resources will be provided so that paediatric cardiac surgeons and cardiologists are able to work out of both The Children’s Hospital at Westmead and Sydney Children’s Hospital Randwick. Both campuses will be networked with the model of care enhanced in consultation with clinicians.
The NSW Government is providing additional funding of up to $10 million for the best possible equipment and infrastructure to deliver paediatric cardiac services.
“Both The Children’s Hospital at Westmead and the Sydney Children’s Hospital in Randwick will remain comprehensive children’s hospitals with tertiary and quaternary services on each site,” Dr Lyons said.
“NSW Health also supports the recommendations from the Henry review for strengthened governance of children’s health services statewide.
“NSW Health remains committed to working closely with clinicians and staff across the Sydney Children’s Hospitals Network and throughout the state to ensure the best provision of paediatric services across metropolitan, regional and remote areas.”
“Multiple reviews into the governance of the Sydney Children’s Hospital Network have recommended that the Network remains. Without a united network, a range of specialist children’s paediatric services and paediatric medical research would be weakened in NSW,” Dr Lyons said.
The recommendations of the Henry Review, feedback of paediatric specialists and stakeholders who attended the 27 July 2019 Roundtable, findings from previous reviews, including the independent review of Sydney Children’s Hospital Network Governance in June 2019 will all inform and guide paediatric practice across NSW.
The full review is available on at Review of health services for children, young people and families within the NSW Health system.