Labor says new hospital would take some pressure off Blacktown, Westmead and Mt Druitt hospitals.

Labor Opposition Leader Michael Daley has promised a 300-bed hospital for Sydney’s North West.

The hospital will cost $700 million, be based at Rouse Hill and will cover Marsden Park, Schofields, Box Hill and Kellyville. These are some of the fastest growing suburbs in the city and have a relatively young population.

Labor’s shadow health spokesperson Walt Secord said construction would begin within the first term of a Labor government.

“We’re adapting the hospital plan to suit the local needs of the community – maternity services, obstetrics, paediatric wards, a special care nursery and a women’s clinic,” he told the Sydney Morning Herald.

Secord says the 300-bed hospital, which would also include an emergency department, operating theatres and diagnostic services, would be “networked” with Blacktown and Westmead hospitals.

Health Minister Brad Hazzard responded to Labor’s announcement by saying the government had committed $300 million in its 2017–18 budget towards a “stage one” Rouse Hill Health Service, which would be integrated with Blacktown and Westmead hospitals.

“The land has been identified, the critical services plan has already been developed – that’s working with doctors and local health staff to determine what the range of services are,” he said.