Private sector market testing for Fiona Stanley Hospital service provision

The State Government is calling for expressions of interests from the private sector to provide facilities and support service management for Fiona Stanley Hospital.

Health Minister Kim Hames said the new tertiary hospital provided a unique opportunity to look at the most progressive and innovative ways of delivering non-clinical services.  The expression of interest process would allow the Fiona Stanley Hospital to market test what was on offer in the private sector.

Services under consideration included engineering and building maintenance; security; ground maintenance; linen; cleaning; catering and waste services; managed equipment services; transport; procurement; sterilisation; and reception and clerical services.

"The Fiona Stanley Hospital is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to design services for a tertiary hospital from a clean slate," Dr Hames said.

"It is a rare chance to explore a range of progressive options that can deliver contemporary non-clinical services.

"Government analysis clearly shows that, in recent years, the private sector has developed considerable expertise, processes and technologies for delivering quality non-clinical services.  By testing the market in this way, we are asking the private sector to show us what they are capable of delivering.

"If the private sector meets the State Government's expectations, then the majority of Fiona Stanley Hospital's non-clinical services will be outsourced when it opens in 2014.

"I would like to reassure staff working in these areas at the existing tertiary hospitals - Royal Perth, Sir Charles Gairdner and Fremantle hospitals - that I am not considering privatising non-clinical services at those sites."

The Minister said the outsourcing of clinical services at Fiona Stanley Hospital was also not under consideration and this process would not encroach on any direct or indirect patient care work performed by doctors, nurses or allied health professionals.

"We have a wealth of expertise and experience in clinical care right across the Department of Health and the clinical services for our new tertiary hospital will be delivered by our clinical staff," he said.

A final decision on any services to be outsourced is not expected until the second half of 2010.

Fiona Stanley Hospital will be the major tertiary hospital servicing the southern metropolitan area.  It will be home to a major trauma centre and the State burns service.  The hospital will also offer cancer, paediatric, radiology, renal transplant and dialysis, mental health, obstetric and neonatal services. 

A new $255.7million State Rehabilitation Centre will also be built alongside the hospital and a new medical research facility will be built in conjunction with universities and the Western Australian Institute for Medical Research.

For more information about the Fiona Stanley Hospital project, visit http://www.fionastanley.health.wa.gov.au or call 1800 659 475.