Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital unveils its new Emergency Department

1/7/04
Another phase of the State Government's commitment to improving the Western Australian health system was unveiled today with the opening of the $9.5million redevelopment of Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital's Emergency Department (ED).
The world-class facility will now cater for up to 45,000 patients per year, an increase on 2001 levels of around 36,000 per year.
Health Minister Jim McGinty said the redevelopment was part of a $22million commitment to improve hospital emergency departments across the State.
"The upgrade of Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital's emergency department is a significant addition to WA's hospital system that will ensure patients receive the highest level of care and treatment," Mr McGinty said.
"The redevelopment will overcome operational inefficiencies, eliminate excessive overcrowding, prevent occupational health and safety problems and enable the delivery of contemporary emergency services from a centre of excellence."
Security at the hospital has been upgraded, including the installation of security windows at the ED triage patient registration and main entrance reception counters to ensure staff safety is maintained.
There is also a six ambulance covered set-down area and an additional four adjacent spaces for other emergency vehicles.
The redevelopment has expanded several other services, including:

• a reconfigured and improved main hospital entrance and reception area;

• seven resuscitation cubicles consisting of two major trauma bays (with dedicated x-ray gantries) and five general resuscitation cubicles;

• an isolation room with ensuite and airlock;

• a three bay 'fast track' unit and a specialist eye cubicle;

• decontamination space for chemical and related emergencies;

• 12-bed observation and four bed holding unit; and

• 13 high acuity and 8 low acuity assessment/treatment cubicles.

SCGH Director of Emergency Medicine Dr Debra O'Brien said the new department was already delivering major benefits for patients and staff.
"The new facility will ease pressure on all medical staff and make it possible to afford each of our patients treatment with privacy and dignity," Dr O'Brien said.
"It has been an extraordinary challenge for staff to continue to work at normal levels while this major construction project has progressed over the past two years - it stands as a testimony to their dedication to the provision of quality care."
The Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital redevelopment is part of a major State Government strategy to ease pressure on public hospital emergency departments, which also includes:

• four new after hours bulk billing medical centres adjacent to Royal Perth and Fremantle Hospitals, the Joondalup Health Campus and Rockingham-Kwinana District Hospital;

• a $20million allocation to open 332 extra hospital beds across metropolitan hospitals. At the end of June the total number of winter beds opened was 235;

• $34.7million for St John Ambulance to put more ambulances on the road and employ 100 new staff; and

• recruitment of 1,125 more full-time salaried nurses in public hospitals since 2001.

Mr McGinty said the early signs were that the combined efforts of the Government's strategies were starting to pay dividends.

"Emergency departments by their nature always operate under pressure but the public hospitals appear to be coping well so far this winter," he said.
There were 10,216 emergency department attendances in the three main public hospitals for June 2004, down slightly from the 10,575 presentations in May 2004. There were 10,009 in June last year.
Minister's office: 9220 5000