$10million coronary care unit opens in Bunbury

• $10million coronary care unit a first for regional WA

• Supported by $5million in Royalties for Regions funding

Health Minister Kim Hames and Regional Development Minister Brendon Grylls today welcomed the opening of Western Australia's first regional coronary care unit at Bunbury.

Dr Hames said the unit heralded a new era in health care for the State's South-West as both public and private patients would benefit from the $10million facility, to be operated by St John of God Bunbury Hospital.

"This is an excellent example of the public and private sectors working together to improve access to health care and treatment for regional patients," he said.

"Because of the work of St John of God Bunbury Hospital and the support of the State Government, the South-West now has a state-of-the-art facility that will serve the needs of the community for many years to come."

Mr Grylls said South-West residents would soon, for the first time, be able to access specialist cardiac care in the region they call home.

"People experiencing heart problems previously had to travel to Perth, away from their family and support networks, to receive life-saving treatment," he said.

"This placed additional burdens on patients and their families at an already challenging time.

"I am pleased $5million in Royalties for Regions funding, through the support of the South West Development Commission, has enabled such a vital service to be made available at the South West Health Campus."

      Fact File

• Single-storey, eight-bed coronary care unit has own ambulance entrance and equipped with latest cardiac and vascular angiography equipment

• Patients to have access to specialist cardiac team

• Royalties for Regions allocated up to $565.34m towards Southern Inland Health Initiative to put GPs back into country towns and fund infrastructure upgrades

Health Minister's office - 6552 5300

Regional Development Minister's office - 6552 5500