Hospitals in WA will benefit from a $188.9 million funding boost from the Commonwealth Government.
As part of the hospital funding package, the Commonwealth will now contribute:
- $158 million towards the Joondalup Health Campus redevelopment;
- $10.6 million towards the Osborne Park Hospital project; and
- $4 million towards an upgrade to Royal Perth Hospital, with a further $16.3 million subject to the completion of a business case for the upgrade.
The recently redeveloped Joondalup Health Campus includes an additional 90 public hospital beds, 30 new mental health beds, eight new operating theatres and the establishment of a new stroke unit. A Medihotel, expanded emergency department and an Urgent Care Clinic will also be built to free up hospital beds and improve patient flow.
This latest announcement follows the opening of a purpose-built, dedicated Mental Health Observation Area at Joondalup Health Campus, in February this year, to alleviate the pressure on the emergency department.
The funding will be provided by the Commonwealth to the State Government this financial year, and held centrally until planning is completed by the State Government for the projects.
Image: Royal Perth Hospital. Credit: Gnangarra…commons.wikimedia.org [CC BY 3.0 au], from Wikimedia Commons