Health Care in Our Region

Critical care services are regionalised so that just a few hospitals have the most specialised services such as high-risk obstetric care, neonatal intensive care and paediatric intensive care.

Over 245 hospitals and facilities call on NETS for advice about acute transport of patients between hospitals.

There are 180 public (state government operated) and 45 private hospitals in 20 health regions across NSW and the ACT. Eight have tertiary perinatal facilities and three are children's hospitals. These hospitals support patients in other hospitals; when their care requires it. Some patients particularly near borders with adjoining states - will be transported to interstate tertiary hospitals.

Patients are transported by air ambulance (fixed wing plane or rotary wing helicopter) or by road ambulance. A combination may be used. Each state operates its own ambulance service. In NSW, NETS operates a separate road ambulance service. Air ambulances may be government or charity operated.

'NETS' is the statewide emergency service for medical retrieval of critically ill newborns, infants and children in New South Wales, Australia.

NETS does not transport from the scene (pre-hospital).