Blue Mountains MP Roza Sage confirmed the 13 graduate nurses would start at Katoomba Hospital in February, with another 81 coming on board at Nepean Hospital.

“I am advised the 13 nurses would start by the end of February,” she told the Gazette.

“I am really looking forward to having all these new nurses on board.

“It will be great for the Mountains, it will increase the services for local people.”

Health Minister Jillian Skinner announced the nurses were part of a record 2163 new graduate nurses and midwives that had been offered positions in 102 hospitals across the state this year.

The 81 graduates due to start at Nepean Hospital were 45 more than last year, she said.

“Our hard working nurses and midwives are central to the strength of our public health system and I am pleased to announce today’s record number of positions,” Mrs Skinner said in a statement. “The NSW Government is committed to boosting our nursing workforce which is why we have allocated 2163 new graduate nurse positions — 500 more than last year.

“It’s particularly pleasing that so many new registered nurses, who have graduated from our universities, have chosen to work in regional and rural areas.”

A pre-election promise to reclassify Katoomba Hospital as rural, which would aid recruitment for specialist positions, is still under review by the Ministry of Health.

Mrs Skinner recently told the Gazette progress was being made on delivering the promise, despite the matter being under review since July last year.