Media Statements - Boom delivers an extra $890million for WA hospitals

21/09/05

Western Australia’s booming economy will see the Gallop Government invest an extra $890million into the State’s health system to build new hospitals, upgrade existing hospitals and open an additional 800 beds.

Health Minister Jim McGinty said the Government had developed a 10-year health blueprint with a massive $3.6billion capital works program for hospitals across the State.

“This is a record investment in our hospitals that will give WA the finest health system in the nation and deliver health care closer to where people live,” Mr McGinty said.

The program will see the relocation of Princess Margaret Hospital to the city, the construction of a new hospital in Perth’s eastern suburbs, extra investment in the Fiona Stanley Hospital, significant upgrades to Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, the redevelopment of the Joondalup Health Campus and the construction of two new state-of-the-art medical research facilities.

The Minister said the additional funding would also cover escalation costs due to expansion of the projects and the overheated construction climate.

In 2004-05 the State Government committed $2.7billion to upgrade the health system, which included $1.7billion to implement the recommendations of the Reid Report, the construction and redevelopment of country hospitals and new IT systems State-wide.

Mr McGinty said the ‘WA Health Clinical Services Framework’ released today detailed the role and projected bed capacity for metropolitan public hospitals.

“The framework builds on the Reid Report with significant improvements to facilities and additional hospital beds,” he said.

“What we have is a bigger and better blueprint for our hospitals for the next 10 years and an extra $890million to do it thanks to our V8 economy.

“The funding will also deliver an additional 800 hospital beds by 2015 with 338 of those beds to be available by 2011.”

The key projects under the health blueprint include:

the $222million relocation of Princess Margaret Hospital to the Wellington Street Campus (North Block) of Royal Perth Hospital once RPH services move to Fiona Stanley Hospital in 2011. North Block will be redeveloped to include a new paediatric emergency department, an intensive care unit, new operating theatres and a neonatal nursery. The funding also includes $30million to assist in the transfer of the Telethon Institute for Child Health Research from Subiaco to the RPH site;

a $183million redevelopment of the existing Swan District Hospital or construction of a new hospital nearby in Midland. The facility will become a 326-bed general hospital by 2010-11, expanding to 334 beds by 2015-16. The development will include a new emergency department, critical care unit, birthing and diagnostic facilities, as well as expanded mental health, ambulatory care and rehabilitation facilities. A taskforce will assess both options and report back to the Minister by the end of the year with construction scheduled to begin in 2008;

an additional $322million for the Fiona Stanley Hospital to fund significant upgrades to the original plan and cover building escalation costs. In addition to all planned tertiary facilities, the $742million hospital will contain the State Trauma Centre and Burns Centre, a heart and lung transplantation unit, major cancer services including radiotherapy, paediatric and neonatal facilities and acute mental health care. The hospital is scheduled to open its doors as a 600-bed facility by 2011 and upgrade to 1,000 beds by 2015-16. The funding includes investment for a new research facility in conjunction with university and research bodies;

a $100million increase in funding to bring forward the redevelopment of the Joondalup Health Campus and increase bed numbers from 235 to 495 by 2011. The redevelopment will see a significant expansion of acute inpatient facilities, new day procedure services, a new emergency department and a doubling in the number of operating theatres. By 2015, Joondalup will become a 600-bed tertiary hospital with teaching and research facilities;

the $546million redevelopment of Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital to incorporate the State Cancer Centre by 2010, expand acute inpatient facilities, expand and upgrade operating theatres and support facilities and upgrade teaching and research facilities. Construction of a multi-deck car park is also included in the funding. Work at SCGH is due to be completed by the end of 2012; and

an additional investment of $58.8million for country hospitals to expand and refurbish facilities at Port Hedland, Broome, Kalgoorlie, Albany, Bunbury and complete work at Geraldton Hospital. These six hospitals will become major regional resource centres delivering as much acute care as possible within the region, limiting the need for patients to travel to Perth.

Mr McGinty said the Clinical Services Framework would see Armadale Kelmscott Memorial Hospital and Rockingham-Kwinana District Hospital upgraded to general hospitals by 2011 along with Swan District Hospital and the Joondalup Health Campus.

Significant upgrades are also planned for Bentley ($23million), Osborne Park ($79million), Kalamunda ($15.4million) and King Edward Memorial Hospital ($20million).

“The Clinical Services Framework was developed after extensive consultation with medical staff and the community and we now have a blueprint to upgrade our hospitals and provide the best possible health care into the future,” the Minister said.

Mr McGinty said the additional funding for hospitals was on top of the $173million commitment to significantly upgrade mental health services, which included $54million for capital works.

The funding is being used to open additional acute mental health beds, employ more than 400 new staff, build an extra 420 community beds for mental health patients across the State and expand mental health services for school aged children.

Minister's office: 9220 5000