New facility to replace existing Armadale/Kelmscott Hospital

30/11/96

The State Government has committed $2.4 million over two years to draw up plans for a new facility to replace the existing Armadale/Kelmscott Hospital, Health Minister Kevin Prince said today.

"We have not deferred or delayed redevelopment plans as the local Labor member Dr Judyth Watson has suggested in advertisements in local newspapers," Mr Prince said.

"Work is under way right now following a $2.4 million budget allocation in May for the preparation of documentation for the new hospital up to the tender stage.

"In part, the reason why a new hospital has not yet been built at this particular site is because of an unexpected cost blowout from the original design which caused the proposal to be reviewed.

"Subsequently that review rejected original plans to include parts of the existing hospital in the upgrade and recommended a whole new facility be built."

Mr Prince said the State Government was committed to providing new and improved facilities to meet the current and predicted health needs of Western Australian communities well into the next century.

This could only be achieved through consultation with communities and a well-planned, financially supported health system.

"Other than to conduct an assessment of the health service needs in Armadale/Kelmscott in 1991, Labor did nothing to progress plans to upgrade the hospital despite the two local members, Dr Watson and Kay Hallahan being members of Cabinet," Mr Prince said.

"Since 1994, the Court Government has spent more than $3 million on new facilities at the hospital including a new functional training unit, new speech pathology, audiology and podiatry departments, an extended paediatrician service and upgrading the vehicular entry from Albany Highway.

"These developments are part of a major project to upgrade health care services and facilities for people in the Armadale-Kelmscott community."

Mr Prince said the Health Department had agreed to provide growth funding which would allow the Armadale/Kelmscott Health Service to operate at maximum capacity.

Mr Prince today met with friends of the Armadale Patients' Association.

Media contact: Kirsten Stoney 366 0300