Budget funding will enable completion of Bunbury & Mandurah hospitals

4/5/98

A multi-million dollar State Government injection into the 1998-99 health budget will see the completion of two major new hospitals at Bunbury and Mandurah this year.

The State Government has committed an extra $62 million to complete state-of-the-art facilities at the two centres, as well as assist with operational expenses at these centres and the recently completed Joondalup Health Campus.

"The Health Department of Western Australia will spend almost $96 million on existing and planned capital works Statewide this financial year, which is an enormous sum in anyone's terms," Health Minister Kevin Prince said.

"This year's program involves 29 existing projects including those at Broome, Bunbury and Mandurah, as well as 23 new developments which will greatly improve health services in those areas.

"The State Government has demonstrated its commitment to providing better health facilities to people in this State, no matter where they live, by increasing funding for capital works in health by more than $25 million since 1995-96.

"A $19.5 million allocation to the 210-bed (total private/public) South West Health Campus at Bunbury and a $400,000 allocation to the 128-bed (total private/public) Peel Health Campus project this financial year will result in the completion of two first-class health facilities.

"Only last week I observed first-hand the hive of activity at the Bunbury site, which will offer local residents a wide variety of services and the option of private or public facilities when it officially opens later this year.

"The State Government recognised the need to replace the outdated health facilities at Peel and Bunbury and we are now delivering on that promise."

 Mr Prince said he hoped to visit the new Mandurah hospital in the near future.

"These projects are cornerstones of a comprehensive capital works program in health this financial year which will deliver improved health facilities across the State," the Minister said.

"Funding has also been earmarked for new projects at Busselton, Exmouth, Goomalling, Katanning, Lancelin, Merredin, Moora, Narrogin, Pinjarra and Mt Barker which I am certain, will be most welcomed by people living in those areas."

Media contact: Kirsten Stoney 089 221 1377