Media Statements - Construction to start on new Armadale Kelmscott Memorial Hospital

11/2/00

Construction is set to begin later this month on the new $48 million public hospital at the Armadale Health Campus.

Health Minister John Day and Works Minister Rob Johnson today signed the main works contract that has been awarded to BGC Construction.

Mr Day said construction of the new 190-bed public hospital was on schedule and it was expected to be operational by August-September next year.

“This Government has been committed to ensuring that the people living in the Armadale/Kelmscott region were provided with a world-class medical facility,” he said.

“The signing of this contract is an important milestone in that program in which to provide a high standard of medical services closer to where people live.

“Local residents will soon be serviced by a state-of-the-art public hospital where public patients will continue to receive treatment at absolutely no cost.”

Mr Day said the new Armadale Kelmscott Memorial Hospital complex would replace the existing sub-standard 35-year-old hospital.

He said there was also a need to further improve health services in the area and a greater range of new services was currently being established.

“The new public hospital will include bigger and better in-patient services, more operating theatres and emergency bays, and a GP after-hour medical service,” the Minister said.

“It will also feature expanded psychiatric services, and an upgraded restorative care and psycho-geriatric unit.

“These significant initiatives will correct the neglect of past governments in the provision of health services to the South-East Metropolitan region and provide community access to a top-class medical facility.”

Mr Day said that over the past two years an additional $4 million had been directed towards increased medical services at the Armadale Health Service which included:

expanding the renal dialysis clinic;
the introduction of a gastro-intestinal endoscopy satellite service - taking around 15 people a week off the teaching hospital waiting lists;
the expansion of the obstetrics service;
the opening of a Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service satellite clinic at Kelmscott; and -
the installation of a CT body scanner.

The Minister said the new hospital would be constructed in front of the existing hospital and road access to the hospital and emergency services would be changed until the redevelopment was completed.

Media contact: Mark Thompson 9213 6600