25/3/02
The State Government will provide more than $2million in one-off capital funding in a major boost for residential aged care services in Broome.
The funds are being made available for the provision of 14 high-care residential aged care places in the town.
Minister for the Kimberley, Tom Stephens, who announced the funding arrangements in Broome, said the beds would improve access to aged care facilities and bring them closer to where residents lived.
Making the beds available in Broome is part of a massive $34million capital commitment to the Kimberley to enhance health and aged care infrastructure.
This includes funding for the replacement, development and redevelopment of new residential care facilities under the Kimberley Aged Care Plan.
The plan involves redistributing high-care places - from the 50 allocated to the Numbala Nunga Nursing Home in Derby - to local aged care facilities within the Kimberley region.
A further 12-bed places will also be made available through the closure of the Mt Henry Hospital in Perth, bringing to 62 the high care beds being redistributed in the region.
As part of this redistribution, expressions of interest were called for the development and operation of 14 high-care residential aged care places within a new Broome service.
Mr Stephens said that Broome Aged and Disabled Services, in collaboration with Southern Cross Care (WA), had been given preferred tender status for the operation of the aged care places.
"The Department of Health Kimberley Aged Care Study has recommended that 26 high-care residential aged care places are retained in Derby and the remaining 36 are distributed in areas of need within the Kimberley region," the Minister said.
"This initiative will provide a culturally appropriate environment and model of care for the aged residents throughout the Kimberley region.
"It will reduce the difficulties associated with distance and social isolation for nursing home residents."
Mr Stephens said the Shire of Broome had been very active in recognising the need to address the perceived inequity in the distribution of high-care beds in the Kimberley region.
Last year the shire commissioned an independent consultancy to develop an Aged Care Plan for Broome, and accompanying strategies, to meet the current and future needs for aged care to the year 2020.
The $34million for Kimberley capital development projects over the current four-year State Government term was announced in last year's $2.3billion health budget.
Those projects include upgrading health and hospital facilities and increasing available staff accommodation across the Kimberley region.
"The Government is looking at long-term planning for hospital infrastructure and equipment in rural and regional WA and budget funds have been provided expressly for this purpose," Mr Stephens said.
Minister's Office - 9213 6500
