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Area Health Services were established by an Act of State Parliament under the Health Services Act 1997.
In July 2004, a restructure was announced following the review of NSW health administration by the Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal (IPART). The review, conducted in 2003, recommended streamlining the administration structure and more clearly delineating roles and responsibilities between the Area Health Services and the Department of Health.
The Health Services Act 1997 was amended in December 2004 by the Health Services Amendment Act 2004.
Hunter New England Health was created on 1 January 2005, following the merger between Hunter, New England and the Lower Mid North Coast local government areas of Gloucester, Greater Taree City and Great Lakes.
Hunter New England Health:
- Provides care for approximately 840,000 people
- Covers a geographical area of over 130,000 square kilometres - the size of England!
- Has approx. 14,500 staff (or 10,500 FTE)
- Has 1500 medical officers
- Has 1600 volunteers
- Provides health services to 12 per cent of the State's population
- Provides health services to 20 per cent of the State's Aboriginal population
- Spans 32 local government areas
- Spends $1.3billion per annum
- Has a head office in Newcastle and a regional office in Tamworth
- Hunter New England Health is unique, in that it is the only Area Health Service with a major metropolitan centre (Newcastle/Lake Macquarie) as well as a mix of several large regional centres and many smaller rural centres and remote communities within its borders.
Hunter New England Health includes public hospitals and health facilities at:
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Armidale
Ashford
Barraba
Belmont
Beresfield
Bingara
Boggabilla
Boggabri
Bulahdelah
Bundarra
Cessnock
Clarence Town
Denman
Dungog
Eastlakes
East Maitland
Emmaville |
Forster
Glen Innes
Gloucester
Gresford
Gunnedah
Guyra
Gwabegar
Harrington
Hawks Nest
Inverell
Kurri Kurri
Maitland
Manilla
Manning
Merriwa
Moree
Morisset |
Mungindi
Murrurundi
Muswellbrook
Narrabri
Nelson Bay
New Lambton
Newcastle
Nundle
Pilliga
Premer
Quirindi
Raymond Terrace
Scone
Singleton
Stroud
Tambar Springs Tamworth |
Taree
Tea Gardens
Tenterfield
Tingha
Toomelah
Toronto
Uralla
Walcha
Walhallow
Wallsend
Waratah
Warialda
Wee Waa
Werris Creek
Windale
Wingham
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Our Strengths:
By uniting the health services from the three areas, we combine the following strengths:
- High quality, safe patient care
- Skilled, hard-working and valued staff
- An understanding of and commitment to rural communities
- Experience providing health service across a broad geographical area
- The best immunisation rates in the State
- A commitment to the health and wellbeing of our Indigenous communities
- Highly developed telehealth and information technology services
- Dedicated and loyal volunteers
- Effective models of community participation
- Expertise in health promotion and prevention
- Successful strategies to improve staff safety
- A focus on innovation
- Teaching and research
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