Strict quality standards set for Armadale Health service redevelopment

29/6/98

The Armadale Health Service (AHS) is set to become one of the best health care providers in Western Australia under strict service and quality standards set by the State Government for its redevelopment.

Health Minister Kevin Prince said that the terms and conditions in the State Government's Request for Proposal (RFP) document, released to short-listed proponents today, would ensure residents in the south-east metropolitan region received high quality health care well into the next century.

"This document forms an integral part of the State Government plans to redevelop the Armadale Health Service into a first-class facility which will better meet the needs of people living in that area," Mr Prince said.

"We need to ensure high quality health care, matched by a high standard of service, is delivered to patients in the south-east metropolitan corridor as a result of this major redevelopment and the RFP document makes it clear to the private sector operators tendering for the project, what is required.

"The RFP, which details the facilities, service requirements and quality standards to be delivered by the successful tenderer, will assist the Government in determining how it can deliver the most up-to-date health services to this area of Perth, whilst ensuring maximum value from its investment of taxpayers' money."

Premier Richard Court announced the four-year redevelopment of the AHS in October last year.

In February, following a call for expressions of interest from the private sector,

Mr Prince announced that five proponents would be invited to lodge detailed proposals for the redevelopment of the AHS.

They were: Australian Hospital Care Limited, Futuris Corporation Limited, Health Care of Australia, Mercy Health Care Australia and Ramsay Health Care.

"The RFP process will ensure that the proponents are competitive in demonstrating their capacity to delivery high quality public health services to the local community," Mr Prince said.

An October deadline has been set for submissions.

The Government will then decide on the preferred option for the redevelopment, using either the private or public sector.

"However, regardless of a decision as to how the redevelopment is carried out, public patients will continue to access the public services at AHS free of charge," Mr Prince said.

The redevelopment will include a full range of non-tertiary level services such as accident and emergency while the health campus will include rehabilitation, primaryalth, mental health and associated facilities.

The redeveloped AHS is expected to be fully operational by the end of 2001.

Media contact: Kirsten Stoney 9 221 1377