Cardiac surgery will be streamlined across the metropolitan area with the development of a single cardiothoracic service, Health Minister Kim Hames announced today.

The decision followed consultation with the State’s cardiothoracic surgeons on the best configuration of services once Fiona Stanley Hospital commenced operation in 2014.

Dr Hames said when Fiona Stanley Hospital opened, a new director of cardiothoracic services would be appointed to head up the service, based at the hospital.  The service would then operate across three sites at Royal Perth, Sir Charles Gairdner and Fiona Stanley hospitals, but with co-ordination and management by the director at Fiona Stanley Hospital. 

“We have considered all options and strongly believe this is the best possible outcome for the people of Western Australia,” he said.

“This decision will ensure better opportunities for succession planning and training.

“The new system of delivering the service will also improve working conditions for the cardiothoracic teams at each site because there will be a single roster to cover all three sites, ensuring better co-ordination of on-call services.”

The Minister said, in the meantime, cardiothoracic services would continue to be delivered at Royal Perth and Sir Charles Gairdner hospitals.  Cardiothoracic surgery would continue at Fremantle Hospital until services moved to Fiona Stanley Hospital. 

Advanced heart failure and heart-lung transplant services would remain at RPH when the change occurred.

“We have made this decision, well before the opening of Fiona Stanley Hospital to provide certainty for staff working in this field about their future employment and the location of their services,” Dr Hames said.

“This decision will also allow proper planning to occur to provide for the future of cardiothoracic services prior to the construction of Fiona Stanley Hospital.”