Opening of $8M cardiology unit at Hollywood Private Hospital

2/2/99

Health Minister John Day today opened a new $8 million cardiology unit at Hollywood Private Hospital.

Mr Day said the new Perth Cardiovascular Institute would significantly add to the provision of cardiac services in the metropolitan area and increase the availability of 24-hour angioplasty for people suffering a myocardial infarction, an acute form of heart attack.

The purpose-designed complex had a 24-hour emergency cardiac assessment unit, coronary care unit, invasive investigation and intervention, non-invasive investigation and consulting rooms.

"It provides comprehensive assessment, treatment and intervention complex with the combined expertise of eight cardiologists who have teaching hospital appointments at Royal Perth Hospital," Mr Day said.

He said the interventional cardiologists in the unit introduced coronary angioplasty to Western Australia in 1980 and were the most experienced with this procedure in Australia having completed more than 10,000 operations.

"The group also has special expertise in advanced heart failure management, rehabilitation and cardiac transplantation," he said.

Hollywood Hospital transferred from the Commonwealth to Ramsay Health Care in February 1994.

Since then, Ramsay has spent more than $37 million redeveloping the hospital to provide a new psychiatric facility, a new accommodation wing, a specialist medical centre and the new cardiac facilities.

Mr Day said the hospital would build another two new wards this year to cater for the predicted extra patient demand due to changes to Gold Card entitlements announced by the Commonwealth Government last month.

The Health Department had granted Hollywood 50 extra bed licences after the hospital formally applied, as about 3,700 extra veterans would be eligible for treatment at the hospital.

About 80 per cent of patients at the hospital were from the ex-service community.

Media contact: Mark Thompson on 9213 6600