$13million upgrade of Osborne Park Hospital on track

19/10/02
Work on the $13million upgrade of Osborne Park Hospital will begin early next year, Health Minister Bob Kucera said today.
More than $6.6million has been set aside to begin the development of a new Adult Mental Health Inpatient Unit at the hospital and a further $6.5million for a state-of-the-art theatre complex and day procedure unit.
Mr Kucera said the planning process for the new theatre complex was almost completed. Work would begin in February next year and be completed by Christmas 2003.
Work on the new mental health facility is already well under way.
Mr Kucera announced the timetable for the theatre works and released architectural drawings showing what the new facilities would look like at Osborne Park Hospital's open day today.
"Despite its rapid growth to become one of the State's major secondary hospitals, Osborne Park Hospital has always retained its strong sense of community spirit and identity," he said.
"Apart from its excellent delivery of health services, it also works hard on its relationship with the local community through events like the family bush dance it held for its 40th anniversary, carols-by-candlelight at Christmas and today's open day, which is very much a family-oriented event."
The Minister said the hospital first opened in 1962 as a general practitioner hospital with just 42 beds and a 16-bed maternity ward.
Today it is an accredited community hospital with a capacity of more than 230 beds, providing surgical, medical, rehabilitation, aged care, mental health and maternity services to the people of the north metropolitan suburbs.
"Each year on average this hospital handles around 1,500 births, more than 1,500 medical and rehabilitation cases, and performs something in the vicinity of 6,000 surgical procedures," Mr Kucera said.
"Just last month it celebrated its 50,000th baby delivery."
The State Government recently committed $13million to upgrade services at the hospital.
"The new theatre complex will replace the existing theatre block and have three theatres, a day procedure unit and necessary ancillary components," the Minister said.
He said the hospital also provided a comprehensive Rehabilitation and Aged Care Service.
Planning work continues as part of the North Metropolitan Health Service Area planning process to elevate the hospital to a lead role in the management of rehabilitation and aged care services in the northern corridor.
Minister's office: 9213 7000