The Dalwallinu and Wongan Hills health services redevelopments are part of a $300 million capital works program that is improving capital infrastructure in 37 towns across the Wheatbelt, Great Southern, Mid-West and South-West regions. In the Wheatbelt, Merredin, Narrogin and Northam hospitals are being redeveloped, as well as upgrades to 23 small hospitals and health centres across the region.
The Dalwallinu Health Service redevelopment includes a new waiting area, triage room, purpose-built child health consult room and a multipurpose consultation room which is telehealth enabled.
There are also two upgraded fully-assisted patient bathrooms; a refurbished kitchen; a secure medical records and communications room; a division between inpatient and outpatient areas using controlled security doors plus a public disabled access toilet.
The Wongan Hills Health Service received a new ambulance bay canopy; a refurbished waiting area; a new telehealth enabled multipurpose consultation room; a new toilet and shower with trolley access in the acute care area; a redeveloped kitchen; improved security allowing separation between patient, outpatient and staff areas; and a new disabled access toilet.
The new office space also has videoconferencing capabilities enabling staff to attend training without leaving the building, and the consultation room also has videoconferencing capabilities.
Complementing improvements to infrastructure, Dalwallinu and Wongan Hills health services have benefited from investment in digital and information systems, including the introduction of a full coverage voice grade wireless network that will support the planned integration of new nurse call and mobile duress systems.
Staff will now be able to use mobile technology as Wi-Fi will be available throughout the hospitals. The wireless networks will also support the future use of wireless telehealth carts that will be able to bring videoconferencing to the patient’s bedside.
Both health services received revamped communication rooms with upgraded switching infrastructure and uninterrupted power supplies that connect to emergency generators, meaning staff have more reliable ICT systems that have the capacity to support new technology as it becomes available.
Other small hospital refurbishments recently opened in the Wheatbelt region include Goomalling Health Service, Kellerberrin Memorial Health Service, Kununoppin Health Service, Southern Cross Health Service and York Health Service.