New six-bed day surgery unit opened at Broome Hospital
28/7/99 People in Broome could have their elective surgery performed sooner than expected with the opening of a new six-bed day surgery unit at the Broome Hospital.
28/7/99
People in Broome could have their elective surgery performed sooner than expected with the opening of a new six-bed day surgery unit at the Broome Hospital.
Health Minister John Day said the day surgery unit - part of a $15 million redevelopment of the Broome Hospital - would increase the number of operations that could be performed at the hospital and lead to more beds being available.
"The new day surgery unit will enable the waiting period for elective surgery to be significantly reduced so that local residents can now be treated locally and avoid having to travel to Perth for treatment," Mr Day said.
"The day surgery unit will also enable patients to go home immediately after an operation, causing minimal disruption to their lives.
"Patients will also benefit from having their family and friends nearby."
Broome residents waiting for elective surgery will be contacted by the Central Wait List Bureau (CWLB) over the next few months to determine whether they would like their surgery performed earlier at the Broome Hospital, where possible.
A State Government initiative, the CWLB gives people the opportunity to have their operations performed sooner by arranging for the surgery to be done at a hospital with a shorter waiting time, based on the type of surgery required.
"The CWLB has just organised for about 50 local people, who have waited for cataract operations, to have the procedure performed at Broome over the next few weeks," Mr Day said.
It has also done the same for about 60 people waiting for ear, nose and throat surgery.
More than 3000 people have had elective surgery performed quicker in the past 14 months through the CWLB.
Newly-released figures by the CWLB revealed that the waiting list for elective surgery in WA was at its lowest in more than two years, falling from nearly 17,000 in June 1998 to nearly 12,530 in June 1999.
The CWLB also provides valuable information to hospitals and doctors to assist them with selecting appropriate hospitals and surgeons for patients.
The CWLB can be contacted during business hours on freecall: 1800 654 807 or web site: www.health.wa.gov.au/cwlb.
Media contact: Mark Thompson on (08) 9213 660
