Dr Hugh McDermott MP
Parliamentary Secretary to the Attorney General
State Member for Prospect


The Minns Labor Government will deliver a major upgrade for Fairfield Hospital to meet the healthcare needs of the growing local community, the first major upgrade since the hospital opened in 1989.

It is part of a landmark $3 billion commitment in the NSW Budget for new and upgraded hospitals across greater Western Sydney, one of the largest investments in Western Sydney health infrastructure in recent memory.

The 2023-24 NSW Budget includes $550 million to expand and upgrade Fairfield Hospital to deliver more medical, surgical and rehabilitation beds.
The expansion will also increase the capacity of the Emergency Department and Intensive Care Unit and expand mental health, aged care, orthopaedic, respiratory and interventional cardiac services.

The Minns Labor Government has an ambitious agenda to rebuild essential services, including healthcare, that communities across greater Western Sydney rely on.
Together, these landmark investments will deliver on the Minns Labor Government’s pledge for 600 new hospital beds across greater Western Sydney.

Hospitals across greater Western Sydney have been left overwhelmed and underfunded after 12 years of neglect by the Liberals and Nationals, including not permanently funding 1,112 nurses and midwives currently working in NSW hospitals.
Data from the Bureau of Health Information (BHI) shows more than 76,000 patients presented to emergency departments across the South-Western Sydney Local Health District in the April to June quarter, 2023.

The data also reveals these patients are facing long wait times in emergency departments, with almost 40 percent of patients waiting longer than recommended to start their treatment.

Addressing these challenges has been made more difficult by the state of the budget we inherited, with record debt, $90 billion worth of privatised assets and $7 billion in unfunded promises.
We can’t undo 12 years of Liberal and National neglect of our health system overnight – it will take time.

But we are undertaking a comprehensive suite of reforms to rebuild our health system.
These historic investments in new and upgraded hospitals in greater Western Sydney are possible because the Minns Labor Government is making responsible decisions to repair the budget and reprioritise spending on essential services.

The Minns Labor Government is setting out a long-term plan to repair the budget so we can deliver essential healthcare services for families across greater Western Sydney, reduce waiting times and improving access to timely, high-quality healthcare.

Dr Hugh McDermott MP, State Member for Prospect:
“For 12 years, the healthcare needs of south west Sydney - one of the fastest growing parts of our state – were left neglected by the former Liberal Government.

“Today, we are making good on our pledge to this growing community to deliver the healthcare services they need and deserve.”

“By upgrading Fairfield Hospital and expanding its capacity, we are investing in the delivery and accessibility of healthcare to meet the needs of this community well into the future.”