21/09/05
The State Government will invest an extra $102million to redevelop the Joondalup Health Campus into Perth’s third tertiary hospital.
Health Minister Jim McGinty said the State Government had allocated $126.3million to rebuild the Joondalup facility into a major public teaching hospital and boost bed numbers from 235 to 623 by 2015.
“Redeveloping Joondalup Health Campus into one of Perth’s biggest hospitals has been one of the Gallop Government’s highest priorities under its health blueprint due to the fast-growing population in the north,“ Mr McGinty said.
“It was originally planned for Joondalup to become a tertiary hospital by 2020. However, the healthy budget surplus will enable the project to be completed at least five years earlier.
“That means by 2015, northern suburbs residents will have access to the highest level of tertiary health care closer to where they live.”
The Minister said the Government had also struck an agreement with Affinity Health (now Ramsay Healthcare) to build a new private hospital adjacent to the public hospital within the next three years, providing between 150 to 250 beds.
By the end of 2008, Joondalup’s emergency department will be upgraded and will include four acute mental health observation beds. A 30-bed inpatient facility for mental health patients will also be constructed, providing 15 public beds and 15 private beds.
In the next three years, public hospital bed numbers will be boosted from 235 to 325, and then further increased to 495 by November 2011. When the facility becomes a tertiary hospital by 2015, there will be 623 beds.
The redevelopment will also include the construction of a new dental clinic, day procedure facilities such as renal dialysis chairs, an expansion of general and rehabilitation inpatient facilities and an upgrade of existing patient facilities.
Mr McGinty said the additional funding to redevelop the Joondalup Health Campus was part of a total rebuild of the State’s health system.
“Our booming economy means we can invest an extra $890million to build new hospitals, upgrade existing hospitals and open an additional 800 beds,” he said.
“The Government has developed a 10-year health blueprint with a massive $3.6billion capital works program for hospitals right across the State.”
Minister's office: 9220 5000
