Welcome to Caring Together: The Health Action Plan for NSW website outlining the NSW Government's response to the recommendations made by Mr Peter Garling SC following his Inquiry into acute care services in NSW public hospitals.

The Caring Together: The Health Action Plan for NSW is the first stage of a three-stage plan to improve our health care system.

Throughout 2008, Commissioner Garling undertook the most significant inquiry ever of the NSW acute care system. His 1200-page Report was provided to the Government in November last year.

The Report identified the great strengths of our health system. It also identified some problems and the need to re-focus on the patient as the centre of the health care system.

Since receiving the Garling Report I have undertaken an extensive consultation process where 12,000 people have provided input either face to face, via the web, in workshops or submissions.

The Report includes 139 recommendations and the Government is accepting 134 of these.

Based on the consultation process, the Government is providing a three-stage response supported by an additional $485 million over 4 years.

Progress reports will be released publicly on a regular basis.

I have planned further workshops and hospital visits over the coming months and together with the Director General will continue listening to the views of health workers and community representatives as they work locally on implementation.

Thank you for visiting the site and for your interest in the work of the NSW Government.

Your involvement will be important to improving our health system.

I now invite you to take the time to review the Government's response to the Garling Report recommendations.

John Della Bosca
Minister for Health