Media Statements - State-of-the-art Day Surgery Hospital for Mirrabooka

30/1/01

A new $45 million Day Surgery Hospital at Mirrabooka will provide access to ultra modern health services to a catchment population of 270,000 people.

Health Minister John Day said the hospital, announced by Premier Richard Court at the Liberal Party’s 2001 election campaign launch, would be the first of a network of similar hospitals to be established in the metropolitan region.

“The Day Surgery Hospital is the future model for same-day acute health services, traditionally performed in larger hospitals,” Mr Day said.

“The concept of walk in, walk out services, where patient care is completed in 24 hours, will help free-up the capacity of teaching hospitals to provide more complex care for the entire State.”

Mr Day said the hospital would provide a comprehensive range of consultation, diagnostic, medical, and surgical services closer to where people live.

These services may include:

day surgery and day procedures;
extended recovery;
renal dialysis;
rehabilitation services;
chemotherapy;
antenatal care;
after hours general practice clinics;
specialist outpatient medical and allied health services;
dental services;
high technology imaging and diagnostic services; and -
pharmacy services.

Mr Day said the hospital would be a major teaching centre for medical, nursing and allied health professionals and would provide new opportunities for research in community settings.

“The new integrated health centre will take maximum advantage of new technologies such as telehealth, electronic clinical information sharing, electronic patient records and electronic links between care givers to provide an efficient range of care,” he said.

“Clinicians and the community will also be extensively involved in the development of the new project and its services.

Local Member of Parliament Rhonda Parker said that the building of the Mirrabooka Day Surgery Hospital would be a tremendous boost to the area.

“It will not only provide a wide range of high quality health services within the area, but it will also provide new employment opportunities in the health-related fields right on our doorstep.” Mrs Parker said.

“To have easy access to sophisticated health services such as renal dialysis and chemotherapy will create a real improvement in the quality of life for many local residents.

“The benefits to the local community should not be underestimated.

“To have these high quality health services so close to home will make a big difference to the patients and also to their families who are providing support throughout the treatment and care stages of recovery.”

The hospital, the first of its kind in Western Australia, will be designed and constructed using a phased approach. New clinical services will progressively come on stream in 2003, with the complex becoming fully operational in 2004.

Mr Day said the Government’s investment in the hospital, to be located at the intersection of Reid Highway and Mirrabooka Avenue, would provide a major impetus to the revitalisation of the Mirrabooka Regional Centre.

The Minister said the Coalition Government would continue its strong record in developing extensive new facilities throughout Western Australia with almost $400 million to be spent over the next four years.

Media contact: Carole Cowling 9213 6600