Media Statements - Boom delivers an extra $58.8million for country hospitals

21/09/05

The State Government will invest an extra $58.8million to redevelop four major country hospitals across Western Australia into regional resource centres.

Health Minister Jim McGinty said the State Government had allocated $206million to develop centres of high-level clinical care in Albany, Broome, Geraldton, Kalgoorlie, Port Hedland and Bunbury.

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

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

The key projects include:

$26.8million for the redevelopment of Albany Hospital, which will include an upgrade to its emergency department, theatres, surgical facilities, maternity services and mental health beds;

$42million for Broome Hospital’s redevelopment, which will include new beds and operating theatres and the construction of a medical centre next to the emergency department;

$40million for the redevelopment of Kalgoorlie Hospital, which will see an expansion of the emergency department and upgrades of surgical facilities and medical technology; and

$90million for the construction of a new 50-bed hospital in South Hedland, which will replace the existing transportable Port Hedland Hospital.

Work on the redevelopment of the Geraldton Health Campus and South West Health Campus in Bunbury are already under way, with the Geraldton Health Campus the State’s most advanced regional resource centre.

Mr McGinty said the additional funding to redevelop WA’s regional hospitals 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 throughout the State,” he said.

Minister's office: 9220 5000