NSW Health today released its proposed model for health care across NSW, including the establishment of a new child health branch called NSW Kids.

AMA (NSW) President Dr Brian Morton said the proposal to establish NSW Kids was a very important and complex issue that needed input from doctors on the frontline.

“Over the next few days AMA (NSW) will examine the finer details of the proposed model of care and we look forward to consulting with both the NSW Health Minister and NSW Health on the provision of health care to children.”

Dr Morton said the proposed model must be patient-centred and that the maintenance and development of existing paediatric services in all hospitals, not just Westmead and Sydney Children’s hospitals, was important to ensuring this occurred.

“The best care for children and their families is provided close to home and carers so it is important that all current paediatric services within the State’s hospitals stay in place.

“These current services need to be provided with the sufficient resources to enhance the proposed model of care for children in both rural and metropolitan NSW.

“While we support in principle the amalgamation administration of Sydney and Westmead Children’s hospitals, it is important that it does not reduce services at either hospital or within any other hospitals with paediatric services.

Dr Morton also said that GPs also provided for the primary health care needs of children and that the new proposed model should not only recognise but enhance the level of care provided by GPs.

Media Contact: Tanzeem Parkar (02) 9439 8822/ 0419 402 955