Three-quarters of all patients at Katoomba hospital's emergency department were treated on time in the first quarter of this year, according to the latest health figures issued today.
The statistics from the Bureau of Health Information showed a large increase in the number of patients presenting at the ED in the first quarter of this year.
There were 4,639 arrivals, up from 4,403 in the same period last year.
Ambulance arrivals increased by nearly 14 per cent, up to 1.088 from 956 in the first quarter of 2018.
Katoomba's performance on starting treatment on time improved in three out of the four triage categories - urgent, semi-urgent and non-urgent.
The only category where there was a decline was in emergency cases, where 68 per cent were treated on time, compared with 73 per cent for the same time last year.
Nepean Hospital also reported an increase in emergency department arrivals, up 3.7 per cent to 18,419 patients during January to March 2019.
Nepean's treatment times for emergency patients improved, with 42 per cent treated on time, compared with 40 per cent in 2018.
But in the other three categories, percentages fell between three and four percentage points.
Just 50.8 per cent of all patients at Nepean had their treatment started on time, down from 54.4 per cent last year.
Meanwhile, the DA for a new childcare centre at Nepean Hospital has been approved.
MP for Penrith, Stuart Ayres, said the design of the new centre has followed extensive staff and parent consultation with childcare design experts.
The new centre will continue to provide childcare services for up to 68 children aged from zero to five years, with an expansion zone to increase the capacity in the future if required.
