State Government releases $20million for life-saving medical equipment

10/2/02
Perth's public hospitals have started ordering hundreds of pieces of new medical equipment after a State Government decision to fast-track its $20million replacement program.
Premier Geoff Gallop said the Government had originally promised to spend the $20million during its first term but had moved to release the money immediately so old or out-of-date equipment could be replaced as a matter of urgency.
"Turning the health system around will take time but there are some things we can do to make a difference right now," Dr Gallop said.
"A backlog has developed in the replacement of medical equipment stocks due to insufficient funding over eight years of Coalition Government, with very little opportunity to ensure that equipment approaching the end of its useful life could be systematically replaced.
"The decision to speed up this expenditure will reverse some of that backlog and will have a very positive impact on patients.
"It also delivers a major election commitment in less than half the time promised."
Dr Gallop said the amount of funding for each hospital was based on the number and complexity of patients it treated each year.
The $20million will be shared among the four metropolitan health services and is expected to involve the purchase of at least 550 new pieces of equipment.
The allocations include:
East Metropolitan Health Service - $7.23MILLION

• $6.4 million to Royal Perth Hospital for a large-scale replacement program, including new theatre equipment, anaesthetic machines and related monitoring equipment. Two intra-aortic balloon pumps - used for the short-term support of heart function in theatre, intensive care and the Coronary Care Unit - will also be purchased to replace the existing 10-year-old pumps;
• $280,000 to Swan Health Service for new defibrillators, theatre equipment such as electro-surgical machines used to control bleeding during surgery and new foetal monitors;
• $210,000 to Kalamunda Hospital for new gastroenterology scopes, which are used for diagnosing and managing upper gastrointestinal disorders; and
• $320,000 to Bentley Health Service for new vital sign monitors, an operating table and diathermy units used in physical therapy treatments to promote healing and pain relief.

• $4.3million to Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital to upgrade theatre equipment, including a significant upgrade of the hospital's heart defibrillators. In addition, the hospital will purchase state-of-the-art equipment for investigating breathing function and a number of new operating tables, including one specifically used for patients with spinal injury;
• $320,000 to Osborne Park Hospital to update urgently-needed equipment for surgical and obstetric procedures, including a new foetal monitor and an incubator to replace the previous 24-year-old model; and
• $120,000 to Graylands Hospital to upgrade its security fence detection system.

• $3.5million to Fremantle Hospital to fully equip a new theatre suite, which will be used primarily for knee and hip replacements and other orthopaedic procedures, a new mobile image intensifier, used to X-ray patients in radio-translucent beds; and a range of other equipment, and
• $307,000 to Rockingham/ Kwinana Health Service to buy new equipment for theatres, obstetric and gynaecological services and the emergency department.

• $800,000 to King Edward Memorial and Princess Margaret hospitals to upgrade syringe pumps, patient trolleys and security. KEMH will also receive more than $1.4million to upgrade theatres and purchase new equipment, such as the replacement of the Curietron Brachytherapy Unit radiation sources used in the treatment of gynaecological cancers in women; and
• $800,000 to PMH for a range of equipment, including modifications to intensive care transport units, used by the Royal Flying Doctor and ambulance services, for newborns.