NSW State Election Issues explained: Why health is the new battleground for both parties

Labor is campaigning on a promise to put "schools and hospitals before stadiums", but the Coalition can hardly be accused of ignoring our health system.

The Coalition has promised to hire 5000 extra nurses and midwives, 100 palliative care nurses, 1,060 doctors and specialists, 880 allied health workers and 1360 support staff.

But, in the spirit of an election, Labor fired back with a pledge of 5500 new nurses and midwives and mandated nurse-to-patient ratios in emergency departments, children's and maternity wards, and surgical wards.

The Opposition has also pledged 4900 health workers and hospital staff (like cleaners and admin workers), and an extra 1500 paramedics – and that's the staffing promises, the hospital infrastructure promises have been even greater.

The Coalition has also promised $619 million to upgrade Westmead Hospital in a bid to drastically expand services.

Gladys Berejiklian is also promising $1.3 billion to rebuild Bankstown-Lidcombe Hospital after a gas mix-up, which killed one baby and left another with brain damage.

She's also committed to a $385 million upgrade of St George Hospital, but again, has been one-upped by Labor, who's matched that commitment, and raised it by $10 million to add robotic surgery.

And the spirit of competition hasn't ignored our north west.

Residents in the Hills District will be getting a new hospital - regardless of who's elected.

Labor has set aside $700 million for a North West Public Hospital, but the Coalition has already secured a site at Rouse Hill to do the same.

Over $300 million was committed in the last state budget, for Stage One of the build.

NSW STATE ELECTION: THE ISSUES EXPLAINED

Chris O’Keefe and Liz Daniels will be exploring the key issues the voters are weighing up in the build up to the election

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