The State Government has appointed Doric Construction Group to build the new Hedland Hospital, with work due to start next month.
Premier Alan Carpenter said the Government had committed an additional $24.4million towards the project, bringing the total cost to $153million, including the already completed $14.65million aged care facility.
“Forward works including earthworks, drainage, road works and footpaths have already been completed and we are excited to be moving on to the next phase,” Mr Carpenter said.
“The Hedland Regional Resource Centre will be bigger and better than the old hospital it replaces, with more beds, more Emergency Department treatment bays and a range of allied and out-patient services which will ensure people living in the Pilbara region get the best possible medical care closer to home.
“The new hospital will have 64 beds, compared to the old hospital which only has 49 beds. This includes two labour delivery rooms, each with a private ensuite, and an additional dialysis bed taking the total to nine, with a further two beds allocated for future growth.
“In addition, the Emergency Department will be expanded by seven treatment beds to a total of 15, which includes 13 treatment bays and 2 resuscitation rooms.
“For the first time, mental health, drug and alcohol services, population health, allied and community health and administration services will all be located on the same site.
“Staff will also have access to an on-site childcare facility.
“The new hospital will be located next to other important health services including the $14.65million, 56-bed Karlarra House aged-care facility, Pilbara Community and Aged Care services, the communicable disease unit, public dental and general practice services.
“This means that Pilbara residents will have access to more specialists in one convenient location and staff will be able to work more closely with medical professionals from a range of specialties.”
Services at the new Hedland Regional Resource Centre will include:
· a 24-hour emergency department;
· an inpatient unit including pediatric, obstetric and surgical/medical wards;
· two operating theatres;
· a day-surgery and a renal dialysis unit;
· community mental health and drug and alcohol services;
· outpatient and allied health services such as child health, physiotherapy, occupational therapy, dietetics, speech pathology and hospital in the home services;
· visiting specialist services including adult and paediatric cardiology, echo cardiology, ear, nose and throat specialist services, ophthalmology, orthopaedics, podiatry, nephrology, respiratory medicine, rheumatology, urology, obstetrics and gynaecology, paediatrics and anaesthetics;
· medical imaging, pathology and pharmacy services;
· administration, engineering, supply and hotel services; and
· on-site child care for health service employees.
The Premier praised the efforts of Central Kimberley-Pilbara MLA Tom Stephens in supporting the significant project.
The facility is one of six regional resource centres being developed by the State Government in Hedland, Albany, Broome, Bunbury, Geraldton and Kalgoorlie.
Mr Carpenter said the new hospital was part of a $5billion capital works program for hospitals across the State.
“This project is part of a $600million capital investment in country health services over the next eight years,” he said.
“It is the biggest investment in regional health care in WA’s history and is part of our commitment to provide all Western Australians with health care closer to where they live.”
The Hedland Regional Resource Centre is expected to be completed by mid-2010.
Premier's office - 9222 9475 
