New state-of-the-art public hospital to be built at Armadale

26/1/99

Premier Richard Court today announced that the State Government would undertake the construction of a new state-of-the-art public hospital at Armadale and also implement a plan to give residents of the area immediate access to a greater range of improved medical services.

Mr Court said construction work on the new $48 million Armadale Kelmscott Memorial Hospital complex would begin in September and the 120-bed facility - which would replace the existing sub-standard 35-year-old hospital - was expected to be completed by early 2001.

However, there was a need to further improve health services in the area immediately and the plan to introduce a greater range of new services at Armadale would be accelerated.

"These significant initiatives will correct the neglect of past governments in the provision of health services to the south-east metropolitan region and give the community access to a top-class medical facility," the Premier said.

"The State Government is committed to the delivery of world standard health care services within local communities and the new Armadale Kelmscott hospital complex, along with new health campuses at Joondalup, Mandurah and Bunbury, clearly demonstrate this.

"These new facilities have a combined value of more than $130 million and represent a considerable investment in the State's future health care needs. This compares favourably with the previous Government's record in the provision of health services; in the 10 years prior to 1993 no major new facilities were built."

In total the State Government has allocated $488.2 million to capital works projects in the health area since its first Budget in 1993-94.

Mr Court said the Government had made its decision to build a public hospital at Armadale on the basis of a detailed investigation and assessment of the market and of the health needs of the Armadale region.

The Government called for expressions of interest from the private sector after Cabinet agreed to the redevelopment of the Armadale Health Service site in October 1997.

"I said at the outset that if the private sector could not provide the State with better services and value for money, the redevelopment would be publicly funded," the Premier said.

"We were not satisfied with the private sector proposals and in this case, it has been determined that a public hospital will deliver the best health service for the local community and the best deal for taxpayers.

"The Government will continue to seek to deliver the best possible health service to people in the Armadale region and at the same time ensure the best deal for the State."

The Premier acknowledged the important role of the extensive consultation with the community which had been part of the decision-making process. He said consultation with the local community would continue.

Mr Court said the introduction of additional new medical services at Armadale would begin immediately.

"We are not waiting for the new buildings to be completed," he said.

"We are getting on with the job of introducing new services at Armadale as quickly as possible."

The first quarter of 1999 will see the planned introduction of a range of new services including:

·      expanded urology services following the purchase of new equipment worth $65,000;

·      increased ophthalmology services following the Government's commitment to spend an additional $35 million this year reducing waiting list numbers for cataract removal and hip and knee replacements. New ophthalmology equipment worth $97,000 has recently been purchased for Armadale Health Service;

·      the opening of the after hours GP clinic; and -

·      the launch of a haematology service which will be the forerunner of a full oncology service at Armadale.

Mr Court said the new and improved services would complement the increased medical services introduced by the Armadale Health Service over the past year.

Last year the Government announced an additional $5 million for the provision of increased medical services at Armadale which included:

·      the opening of a renal dialysis clinic;

·      the introduction of a gastro-intestinal endoscopy satellite service - taking around 15 people a week off the teaching hospital waiting lists;

·      the expansion of the obstetrics service;

·      the opening of a Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service satellite clinic at Kelmscott; and -

·      the installation of a CT body scanner.

Media contact: Bronwyn Hillman 9222 9475