- Princess Margaret Hospital to move final patients to Perth Children's Hospital
- Huge logistical operation to facilitate the safe transfer of patients, including critically sick children, in a convoy of ambulances
- Co-ordinated multi-agency plan involves WA Police Force, Main Roads and St John Ambulance
Health Minister Roger Cook visited Princess Margaret Hospital (PMH) today to meet patients and staff ahead of the final move to the new Perth Children's Hospital. The move is the biggest medical transfer of children ever undertaken in Western Australia.
Detailed co-ordination and clinical planning is required for the big move, which begins tomorrow (June 10) at 7am. At precisely the same time, the emergency department at PMH will close its doors and the new emergency department at Perth Children's Hospital will open.
The operational plan to move about 80 sick children to the new hospital involves complicated, clinical-based scheduling and the use of a convoy of ambulances - these will leave PMH every five minutes, until the total patient transfer is complete.
St John Ambulance WA will provide 13 ambulances plus two specialist Newborn Emergency Transport Service of Western Australia (NETSWA) ambulances for the patient transfer.
A specialist team of doctors and nurses, solely dedicated to providing neonatal intensive care during transport, will travel with babies who require high-level medical support.
The use of the 'Allocate Me' software program, which electronically scans and monitors patients then tracks them throughout the move, is being provided as part of the system management support from the WA Health Disaster Preparedness Management Unit.
Patients will be moved in ambulances, specialist NETSWA ambulances and cars depending on the patient's clinical needs and requirements.
The WA Police Force will provide six motorcycle units to control traffic on Thomas Street. Main Roads Western Australia will sequence traffic lights to provide 'green corridors' and monitor traffic control on Hamilton Street, Roberts Road, Thomas Street and Hospital Avenue.
The gates of Princess Margaret Hospital will be locked at the completion of the move.
Comments attributed to Health Minister Roger Cook:
"A move of this scale and size is a complex logistical exercise, however, we are confident that with extensive planning and by drawing on the experience of other large scale patient moves in Western Australia, we are well prepared for this event.
"Final preparations are taking place today to ensure a successful move day on Sunday, June 10. This includes final sequencing of patients to ensure the safety of all inpatients during the move and on arrival at Perth Children's Hospital.
"Tomorrow will be a very significant day for not only patients but also staff as the doors of PMH close for the final time after almost 109 years of service to the children and families of Western Australia."
Minister's office - 6552 6500
