Budget allocation for health care and hospitals

The Lawrence Government will provide $1,225 million this financial year for Western Australia's public hospitals and health care services.

Health Minister Keith Wilson said the main initiative was an allocation of $20 million to bring about major long-term improvements in hospital productivity and achieve lasting reductions in hospital waiting lists.

"This move signals the Government's determination to make the health system more efficient and productive to ensure the best possible value for money," Mr Wilson said.

As well as a $13.2 million specific waiting list reduction program, about $6.5 million from productivity gains would be used for initiatives to increase the long-term provision of day surgery, post-acute and palliative care services and for investments in cost-reducing medical technology and medical practices.

Mr Wilson said another important strategy in this year's Budget was a requirement for State Government nursing homes to move substantially towards cost-comparability with non-Government nursing homes.  This was expected to yield savings of at least $10 million over the next two years.

In addition, the State Health Laboratories and the Hospital Linen and Laundry Service would be required to move to a competitive commercial footing within two to three years, with substantial progress to be made this financial year.

The health budget also provided for a new cardiac surgery unit at one of Perth's teaching hospitals.  Details would be announced later this week.

Other important initiatives were:

·         $2.2 million for community mental health services in country areas;

·         $800,000 for metropolitan support services for people with mental illness;

·         $160,000 to establish a Chair in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at the University of Western Australia;

·         three initiatives under the Social Advantage package - $350,000 to expand integrated child and adolescent psychiatric services; $225,000 to expand speech pathology services in Wanneroo, Rockingham and Armadale; and $750,000 for 20 additional child health nurses (11 in country regions, nine in the metropolitan area);

·         introducing a universal infant vaccination program against bacterial meningitis; and -

·         establishing the Health Services Conciliation Commission to help people resolve grievances about health services.

Mr Wilson said the 1992-93 capital works program involved projects in both metropolitan and country areas.

Major projects in the metropolitan area included:

·         $500,000 as part of the $6 million Stage 2 redevelopment of Royal Perth Hospital's South Campus;

·         $4.5 million as part of the $17.6 million redevelopment of Swan District Hospital;

·         $6.7 million to complete the new secure unit at Graylands Hospital;

·         $8 million for facilities at Bentley and Fremantle Hospitals for the transfer of psychiatric services from Heathcote Hospital;

·         $600,000 for planning the redevelopment of Armadale-Kelmscott Hospital; and

·         $100,000 for planning fees for the Wanneroo Hospital redevelopment.

In country areas allocations included $4.8 million for planning and starting construction of the new Bunbury Regional Hospital, $2 million for the start of the $14.8 million new regional hospital in Northam, and $146,000 for planning the redevelopment of Broome District Hospital.