More medical services for Albany residents

22/10/04
The State Government has moved a step closer towards finalising a deal with St John of God Health Care to establish a private day surgery service at Albany Hospital.
Health Minister Jim McGinty said the proposal would see part of Albany Hospital's existing maternity ward upgraded and extended to accommodate private day surgery procedures.
St John of God Health Care is proposing to provide two or three weekly sessions of day surgery, treating about 1,000 patients in its first year of operation.
"This plan will be a huge boost to the many Albany residents who have private health insurance, particularly the elderly," Mr McGinty said.
St John has indicated it will conduct day surgery procedures such as ear, nose and throat, gynaecological, orthopaedic, endoscopic, urology, oral, dental, ophthalmology and general surgery.
St John of God Health Care national chief executive officer Dr Michael Stanford said the organisation planned to spend significant funds on facility remodelling, equipment and instruments to share with Albany Hospital.
"We are delighted with the support we have received from the State Government, WA Country Health Service, doctors and local government," Dr Stanford said.
"We are hopeful the project can proceed as it will offer choice and improve access to services for the Great Southern region."
The WA Country Health Service and St John are negotiating financial and operational details and architectural design.
Mr McGinty said the proposal had several benefits for the Albany community.
"About 50 per cent of Albany residents are estimated to have private health insurance, which is higher than the State average," he said.
"Many of those privately-insured residents opt to be treated under the public system because there is no private hospital within the region.
"Under this new proposal, Albany residents will be able to receive treatment closer to home without having to travel to Perth to take advantage of their private health cover.
"This in turn will help reduce waiting times for public patients who need elective surgery.
"The plan also has the potential to attract doctors and specialists to the area and improve the range of medical services available to both public and private patients."
The WA Country Health Service and St John are aiming for the private day surgery service to be operating within 18 months.
There will be no reduction in public beds at the hospital as part of the upgrade.
The Minister said St John of God had also expressed interest in increasing its private facilities in conjunction with the Government's planned $20million redevelopment for the hospital.
"It is pleasing to see the private health sector collaborating with the Government to provide a high level of health care for Albany residents," he said.
Under the plan, Albany Hospital will be upgraded to a major regional resource centre for the Great Southern.
The $20million redevelopment will see an upgrade to the emergency department, construction of a new maternity ward, an increase in the hospital's bed capacity, new day procedure facilities and an upgrade to the hospital's general infrastructure such as plumbing and heating.
Mr McGinty said health care in Albany had already been significantly improved this year with a number of funding initiatives including:

• $1million redevelopment of Albany Hospital's paediatric ward and $307,000 upgrade of its mental health inpatient unit and medical rehabilitation ward;
• $2million long wait public dental initiative for residents of Albany and surrounding areas, including the recruitment of two dentists as part of the Overseas Dentist Scheme due to start in December;
• a new $220,000 fully equipped portable dialysis unit in Albany; and
• 15 supported residential accommodation units for mental health patients in Albany.