NSW budget spends $8b to upgrade hospitals

An $8 billion investment in the 2018/19 budget will go toward NSW hospitals getting upgrades including a new research and health facility in Sydney's southwest.

NSW Treasurer Dominic Perrottet has promised $8b towards NSW hospital upgrades in the budget. (AAP)

Hospitals across NSW are getting a facelift with $8 billion in the state budget to be spent over four years on upgrades and building new world-class facilities.

Handing down the state budget on Tuesday, NSW Treasurer Dominic Perrottet said the funding included $2.3 billion to be spent in 2018/19 alone, toward delivering 40 new, upgraded or redeveloped hospitals.

Liverpool Hospital in Sydney's southwest has won big with the government spending $740 million to build a new world-class health, research and education precinct.

The treasurer says it has the potential to double the number of jobs in health and education to 30,000 by 2036 and will transform Liverpool into an innovation hub.

The funding will also go towards the statewide mental health infrastructure program to improve therapeutic environments in acute mental health units and a new rural health infrastructure program which will see smaller rural facilities get upgrades and refurbishments.

"We want to make sure wherever you are in NSW, you have access to the best health," Mr Perrottet said.

It's part of the government's massive $25 billion investment into health in 2018/19 which includes $23 billion of recurrent funding.

Frontline staff will be boosted with an extra 950 nurses and midwives, 300 medical practitioners and 120 allied health professions across NSW.

Mental health services are also getting a piece of the pie with $2.1 billion for facility upgrades and support programs across the state.

NSW Mental Health Minister Tanya Davies says the funds will transform existing units to support new contemporary care models.

Medical and scientific research will also get a boost with $115 million set aside over four years to help fight diseases and $25 million to tackle childhood obesity.

There's also $2.7 billion in the kitty to support people on the National Disability Insurance Scheme which NSW Disability Services Minister Ray Williams says will help ensure people with disability can achieve their goals in more inclusive communities.