New $170m Albany Health Campus opened

• $170.4million Albany Health Campus officially opened

• Biggest country hospital project undertaken in WA history

• New hospital part of $7billion investment in WA public hospitals

Premier Colin Barnett and Health Minister Kim Hames have officially opened the new $170.4million Albany Health Campus - part of the largest hospital building program in Western Australia's history.

Mr Barnett said the Albany Health Campus is the biggest country public hospital development undertaken in WA - and a key part of the State Government's $7billion hospital building program.

"The new Albany Health Campus is a state-of-the-art, integrated health facility which will transform the way health services are delivered to the people of the Great Southern," he said.

"It is the latest project to be completed as part of the State Government's public hospital building program in regional WA - with a capital investment of about $1.4billion, including major new facilities in Kalgoorlie-Boulder, Busselton, Karratha, Esperance and Carnarvon.

"Overall, the State Government is investing $7billion in building, expanding or refurbishing hospitals across regional and metropolitan WA.  This includes Fiona Stanley public hospital, the new children's hospital and Midland Public Hospital, which are all well under way.  These hospitals will lead the way in caring for Western Australians for decades."

Dr Hames said the new Albany Health Campus included a bigger emergency department, more mental health beds, expanded renal dialysis capability, expanded cancer services, a new surgical centre and upgraded obstetric and birthing suites.

"The Albany Health Campus is a modern and innovative facility that brings together inpatient and specialist hospital-based services with a range of outpatient services for the seamless care of patients in a 'one-stop-shop' service," he said.

"It provides an attractive opportunity for doctors who want to work in a state-of-the-art facility in a regional location, and will be staffed by highly qualified and experienced doctors."

Regional Development Minister Brendon Grylls said Royalties for Regions had contributed $60.9million to the project.

"This is an important regional project and will provide outstanding health care to about 55,000 people in the Great Southern each year," Mr Grylls said.

Transition from the old Albany hospital to the new campus is under way, with the campus to be fully operational when inpatients move into the facility in mid-May.

     Fact File

• The new campus is funded by $161.6m from the WA Government (including $60.9m from Royalties for Regions) and $8.764m from the Federal Government

• $7billion hospital building program also includes:

• Fiona Stanley public hospital ($1.76billion)

• New children's hospital ($1.27billion)

• Midland Public Hospital ($360.2million)

• Joondalup Public Hospital ($230million)

• Busselton Health Campus ($118million)

• Kalgoorlie Health Campus ($56million)

Premier's office - 6552 5000

Health Minister's office - 6552 5300

Regional Development Minister's office - 6552 5500