Hospitals across NSW have won big in the state's budget with a massive $21.7 billion to be spent on health services in the next financial year.
And a record $23 billion has been set aside for health over the next four years with $7.7 billion dedicated to building and upgrading hospitals.
The Berejiklian coalition government has earmarked $1.7 billion of the $21.7 billion for hospital upgrades and developments in 2017/18.
That includes $720 million for the Prince of Wales Hospital in Sydney's east to deliver state-of-the-art health and education facilities at the Randwick facility.
The project includes a new emergency department, extra beds, new operating theatres and expanded rehabilitation and ambulatory care facilities.
"This redevelopment will make the area one of Australia's leading centres for health and wellbeing, integrating health services with research, education and teaching to drive innovation and be an economic powerhouse for Sydney," Treasurer Dominic Perrottet said as the 2017/18 budget was handed down on Tuesday.
Sydney's west will also receive a large chunk of funds in 2017/18, including $34 million for the redevelopment of the $550 million Nepean Hospital and Integrated Ambulatory Services and $104 million to continue upgrades at Blacktown and Mount Druitt hospitals.
The state's Central Coast will receive an injection of money to boost health services with $87.2 million promised over the next year to continue upgrading Gosford Hospital.
To ensure hospitals are well-supported, an extra 4500 front line staff have been promised in 2017/18, including 2250 nurses and midwives, 850 doctors, 600 health professionals and 800 hospital support staff.
The state's most vulnerable patients will benefit from $17.4 million for palliative care services over the next year as part of the government's four-year $100 million package.
The state government also has its eye on childhood obesity and has committed $100 for every school-aged student for sport participation and membership fees starting in January 2018.
NSW budget a 'missed opportunity' for some
The NSW budget fails to address cost of living pressures, according to the opposition, while the Greens have questioned the absence of money for climate change.
The cashed-up NSW government has become over-reliant on stamp duty and its latest budget highlights skewed priorities, the state opposition claims.
Treasurer Dominic Perrottet's debut budget confirmed a massive $4.5 billion budget surplus this financial year, with enormous funding allocated to health, education and infrastructure.
But Labor leader Luke Foley says the budget highlights the muddled priorities of the Liberal and National parties.
"This is a government that seemingly just isn't in touch with the cost of living pressures on families across NSW," he said in Sydney on Tuesday.
"People are battling."
Mr Foley said the government had failed to provide relief from soaring power prices, unaffordable road tolls and flat wage growth.
The government will spend big on upgraded hospital facilities, including $720 million for the Prince of Wales Hospital in Randwick, however much of the health spending had been revealed prior to Tuesday.
Mr Foley said the government's announcements were exposed as "a cruel hoax", with most of the hospital projects not due for completion until the mid-2020s.
The NSW Council of Social Service described the budget as "lukewarm", and said with billions of dollars in surplus the government should have allocated more money for marginalised communities.
"While we're spending record amounts on some parts of the social sector, we're missing the opportunity to make significant investments early on for children and young people at risk of disadvantage," chief executive Tracy Howe said.
The Australian Paramedics Association accused the government of "dicing with death" by boosting relief officer numbers by just 50, in an attempt to address a chronic shortage across NSW.
"NSW Ambulance is at least 500 paramedics short of what is required to cover existing shifts," state president Steve Pearce said.
The Greens welcomed health and education infrastructure funding, but described it as a "catch up on a backlog".
Greens treasury spokesman Justin Field said the "short-sighted" budget failed to prepare for the impacts of climate change.
