Minister officially opens the Lions Ear and Hearing Institute

22/11/01
The new Lions Ear and Hearing Institute would advance scientific research, diagnosis and the treatment of ear disease for the benefit of people everywhere, Health Minister Bob Kucera said today.
Mr Kucera said the institute would support Western Australia's push to become a leader in the field of biotechnology.
"Research industry leaders need to come together to support major initiatives such as the Lions Ear and Hearing Institute," he said.
"It is in this way that we can build a biomedical industry that will provide a cornerstone for capturing the benefits of biotechnology in WA.
"Biotechnology is of vital importance to WA's future health and economic prosperity and has the potential to rival the importance of the resource sector."
Mr Kucera said the institute incorporated the Lions Ear and Hearing Clinic, Cochlear Implant Unit and new Research Centre, and had already established key clinical research projects.
A major Ear, Neurotology and Skull Base Surgery Unit is attached to the institute with visiting doctors from the United Kingdom, Indonesia and across Australia in Perth to learn surgery.
A busy cochlear implant program is also associated with the institute.
"Cochlear implants have revolutionised the treatment of profound nerve hearing loss in adults and children," Mr Kucera said.
"The Cochlear Implant Group has been invited to be a supporting partner in a nation-wide, co-operative research council for cochlear implant and hearing aid innovation."
Mr Kucera said the past few years had seen an extensive increase in the use of electronic communications and information technology in the health sector.
"The emergence of 'e-health' has the potential to have a substantial impact on health in the next few years," he said.
"The data, stored and retrieved electronically is being used for clinical, educational and administrative purposes.
"It has led to the Lions Ear and Hearing Institute establishing a telemedicine site in the Pilbara.
"The institute is developing new software and instruments to allow images to be relayed to doctors in Perth from remote sites.
"This has the potential to increase access to quality health care in distant locations with reduced costs."
Media contact: Fran Robb (08) 9213 7000