Budget allocation for Broome hospital redevelopment

BUDGET STATEMENT

11/4/97

BROOME HOSPITAL TO UNDERGO MAJOR REDEVELOPMENT

Redevelopment work at the Broome Regional Hospital will continue this year following a $10 million allocation in this year's Health budget.

Health Minister Kevin Prince announced today the Broome redevelopment was a major feature of the Government's $80.1 million health capital works program.

"This project has been planned for about five years and is long overdue," Mr Prince said.

"Work started in January and will be completed in March 1998.

"The people of the West Kimberley can now be assured of a new, state-of-the-art facility in their area which will provide services equal to that offered in the metropolitan area.

"This project is a tangible demonstration of the State Government's commitment to redress the imbalance in services available in the metropolitan and regional areas of the State.

"Despite budgetary constraints, which are largely a result of the Commonwealth's reluctance to provide adequate funding for vital services in this State, the Government has provided sufficient health funding to ensure high quality health services are maintained throughout Western Australia.

"We will continue to offer the best possible health services to people living in WA, no matter where they live.

"It is our intention to take the services to the people, not the people to the services."

Mr Prince said the $10 million allocation would complete the planning and carry out works to provide a new emergency department, a new outpatients area, consulting rooms for visiting specialists, laboratory and x-ray areas.

Other additions would include:

·      a new administration/reception area;

·      refurbishment of existing emergency/outpatients area for day surgery;

·      10 new units for staff accommodation; and -

·      new community health nursing accommodation.

"A number of other areas of the hospital - including the birthing suite and therapies area - will be refurbished as part of the program," the Minister said.

"Existing organ imaging and laboratory facilities, which are currently housed in transportable buildings away from the main hospital, will be relocated.

"Emergency and outpatients services which are extremely cramped and restrictive will be substantially improved as will community health services which will also be relocated to the new building."

The Premier said the contract was given to Multiplex Constructions in January.

"The people of Broome and surrounding communities will have access to a much improved facility when the redevelopment is complete," he said.

Media contact: Kirsten Stoney 221 1377