Media Statements - $65million for new Busselton Hospital

24/10/05

The $65million new Busselton Hospital will double the capacity of the emergency department and provide an increased range of clinical services for South-West patients.

Health Minister Jim McGinty said the new hospital would offer the latest medical facilities and be able to treat nearly twice as many cases.

Mr McGinty said a three-month community consultation period on the future site of the hospital would begin next month and would involve the Department for Planning and Infrastructure and the Busselton Shire.

“The $65million rebuilding of Busselton Hospital is one of the largest health capital works projects in regional Western Australia,” he said.

“The new hospital will see an almost doubling of bed numbers in the hospital’s emergency department from seven to 13, which means critical patients will not have to travel as far for treatment.”

The Minister said a new renal dialysis unit would be constructed, which would reduce the need for patients from Busselton and surrounding areas to travel to Bunbury for dialysis.

The new hospital will include:

48-beds with a High Dependency Unit;
eight-bed day surgery;
two operating theatres;
two birthing suites;
Community Health Centre facilities (specialising in Child and Community health and providing speech pathology, physiotherapy, occupational therapy and other allied health and therapy services);
a hospice;
expanded medical imaging services; and
pathology services.

“This is a significant investment that will dramatically improve health care services in the South-West region and provide the latest clinical facilities closer to where people live,” Mr McGinty said.

The Department of Health is currently reviewing the project’s business case prepared by the South West Area Health Service.

An announcement of the proposed site and outcome of the business case evaluation is expected by June 2006.

The Minister said the $65million to construct the new Busselton Hospital was on top of the extra $58.8million for country hospitals announced last month.

“The redevelopment of Busselton Hospital is part of a total rebuild of the State’s health system,” Mr McGinty said.

“Our booming economy means we can invest an extra $3.5billion to build new hospitals and upgrade existing hospitals throughout the State.”

Minister's office: 9220 5000