Jim McGinty

Jim McGinty

Attorney General; Minister for Health; Electoral Affairs

    Boom delivers an extra $25million for Port Hedland Hospital

    21/09/2005 12:00 AM
     
    21/09/05

    The State Government will invest an extra $25million to redevelop the Port Hedland Hospital into one of Western Australia’s major regional resource centres.

    Health Minister Jim McGinty said a total of $90million would be spent to build a new centre of high-level clinical care in South Hedland.

    “This is a significant investment that will increase access to health care services for people living in the Pilbara region,” Mr McGinty said.

    “The regional resource centre will provide the latest clinical facilities and specialised health care closer to where people live, reducing the need for travel to Perth.”

    The funding will go towards the construction of a new 50-bed hospital in South Hedland, which will replace the existing transportable hospital in Port Hedland.

    The Minister said stronger links would also be formed between country and metropolitan health services in the areas of workforce, education and training, information management and communication technology.

    “These links will give regional health professionals faster and direct access to the expertise of clinical specialists from Perth’s tertiary hospitals, such as diagnostic and treatment options, which will improve outcomes for regional patients,” he said.

    Other key areas that will be improved in the next five years include:
    • ongoing expansion of the clinical workforce in regional resource centres;
    • development of health infrastructure in regional areas;
    • upgrades to staff housing;
    • better patient transport systems; and
    • increased focus on aged care services.
    Mr McGinty said the additional funding to rebuild Port Hedland Hospital 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 and upgrade existing hospitals across the State,” he said.

    “The Government has developed a 10-year health blueprint with a massive $3.6billion capital works program for hospitals throughout WA.”

    Minister's office: 9220 5000