Major Sydney hospital upgrade announced

Plans for the first stage of a near-billion dollar facelift of Westmead Hospital in Sydney's west have been unveiled as the NSW government attempts to meet the needs of the region's bursting population.

The upgrade will include a new acute services building, which will house state-of-the-art operating theatres and a new emergency department.

NSW Premier Mike Baird, who attended the launch of the plans, said with 12,000 people visiting Westmead every day, the $900 million upgrade is part of a broader infrastructure spend in western Sydney.

"We're finalising the route of the Parramatta light rail," he told reporters on Tuesday.

"Obviously that is something that is under consideration. This is a critical facility so the consideration of this as part of this project is ongoing."