Ms JENNY AITCHISON (Maitland—Minister for Regional Transport and Roads) (20:43): When the Minns Labor Government took office last year, caps were in place on health workers' wages and systemic staff shortages at Maitland Hospital directly impacted patients and their families. I have worked with Minister Park since we were in opposition, when we fought for the $470 million hospital, and for it to be fully public. We have met numerous times with unions, hospital management, the community and patients, and we have listened. I thank the Minister and his team for their constant and continuing efforts to improve the healthcare situation at our hospital. I thank the Nurses and Midwives' Association, the Health Services Union and the Australian Salaried Medical Officers' Federation and their many members and organisers, who have always worked hard to improve health services in our community.

The Minns Labor Government has introduced a broad suite of initiatives to further strengthen the State's regional health workforce. These include implementing safe staffing levels, providing permanent funding for over 1,100 full-time equivalent COVID nurses and midwives on an ongoing basis, abolishing the wages cap and delivering the highest pay increase in over a decade for nurses and other health workers, doubling the Rural Health Workforce Incentive Scheme from $10,000 to $20,000, providing HECS incentives to grow the next generation of health professionals, and providing bulk-billing incentives to regional doctors to reduce the pressure on our emergency departments. But there is always more to do. I am pleased to report that between July 2023 and September 2024 our hospital increased its number of full-time equivalent staff by 10 per cent, growing by 121 full‑time equivalent staff and bringing the total to 1,095 full-time equivalent staff.

The Government has worked hard to improve staff retention, build a supportive work environment and focus on growth and development opportunities, and it is working. In 2023 our emergency department at Maitland Hospital had the highest walkout rate in the State. One in four people left the Maitland emergency department before receiving treatment. We have responded. In June this year we opened an emergency short stay unit to increase capacity in the department, improve wait times, and ensure access to appropriate and timely care for patients. Due to staffing constraints at the time, the unit was only open four days a week and at limited hours. But, in great news, the Maitland Hospital's emergency department short stay unit has now increased its capacity by recruiting 16 full-time equivalent staff so it can operate seven days a week.

This is a game changer. It will significantly improve treatment times and patient flow in the emergency department. It will provide a short period of treatment and observation that patients need, without an unnecessary hospital stay. Some $70 million has been invested in short stay units across the State. I am so pleased we have been able to secure one in Maitland. We have seen a remarkable increase in patient activity. Almost 438 patients were treated in the month of September, up from 278 patients when it first opened in June 2024. Since its opening, we have seen improvements in time to treatment across all triage categories by up to 6 per cent, and a 19 per cent improvement in ambulance transfer of care within 30 minutes, releasing our highly valued paramedics.

Speaking of paramedics, I am pleased to report that, across the State, NSW Ambulance has rolled out eight specially designed vehicles known as Hazardous Area Rescue Ambulances, or HARAs. These are the first of their kind in the world. They will optimise response capabilities during natural disasters and in difficult terrain. One of them is stationed at Rutherford. Flood risk data was used to identify the locations of the HARAs, so it is no surprise that Maitland was high on the list of areas to receive one. The service aligns with extensive existing NSW Ambulance special operations and rescue capabilities. HARAs and trained personnel will work across the State in response to risk area analysis and active emergencies.

These Mercedes-Benz Unimog vehicles are part of a major $14.8 million funding package by the New South Wales Government to further build our State's flood rescue capabilities. The HARAs are designed to drive through floodwaters of up to 1.2 metres and are equipped with safety features for operation in hazardous environments. The vehicles have also been made to operate over firegrounds, with the inclusion of a burn‑over crew protection system, the replacement of flammable components, and critical vehicle infrastructure being wrapped in fire-retardant material. The rear of the vehicle is a fully operational ambulance, with a specially designed stretcher loading system to assist paramedics in patient handling and for patient comfort. I thank the people of Maitland for their patience and advocacy and for working side by side with me, the Minister for Health and the entire Minns Labor Government as we deliver the very best in health services for our community. After all, it is what we deserve.