Karratha hospital upgrade completed

• $714,592 redesign to enhance ED capacity
• Nickol Bay Hospital performs better than 2012 national emergency target

Patient flow and staff productivity have been increased at Karratha's Nickol Bay Hospital's Emergency Department (ED) after a $714,592 upgrade.

Health Minister Kim Hames said the redesigned department, funded from the National Partnership Agreement on improving health services, was completed last month and visited by Regional Development Minister Brendon Grylls.

"The enhancements have increased the number of beds and will reduce waiting times and improve patient flow and staff efficiency," Dr Hames said.

"Walls were removed to improve visibility and create a central staff station, as well as providing an additional treatment cubicle and new resuscitation bay.

"The works were staged so the ED could remain operating while the work took place."

The Minister said Nickol Bay Hospital had achieved 94.3 per cent of patients being attended to inside the Four Hour Rule and the redesigned ED would further improve the performance.

"The hospital's November figure is well above the 2012 target for the Four Hour Rule and is significantly higher than the National Emergency Access Target (NEAT) to which Western Australia is aligned," he said.

"In fact the 94.3 per cent meets the target which has been set for 2015."

The Federally funded upgrades were part of the National Partnership Agreement on improving health services.

      Fact File

• Four Hour Rule program was introduced by Liberal-National Govt two years before being adopted nationally as NEAT
• WA hospitals across State continue to lead way, exceeding NEAT targets
• Benefits patients and staff
• In 2011, WA signed up to National Partnership Agreement on Improving Public Hospital Services, which commits WA to work towards national targets in access to emergency and elective services

Minister's office - 6552 5300