Western Australia is embarking on its largest ever hospital construction program as Premier Roger Cook declares the state is entering a new era of healthcare infrastructure.
Massive Funding Shift to Healthcare
In a significant move that signals the government's healthcare priorities, $1.5 billion originally allocated for the Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre revamp will now be redirected to hospital redevelopments across the state. The announcement was made during the WA Labor State Conference in Fremantle on Sunday.
"In recent days, we made some big decisions around the delivery of healthcare in this State," Mr Cook told delegates. "Because we know the system, our hospital staff, have been put to the test."
The Premier emphasised that growing and ageing populations are putting unprecedented pressure on healthcare services, necessitating more beds, more staff, and innovative approaches to hospital infrastructure.
Creating Waves in Healthcare Delivery
Mr Cook framed the government's approach as a choice between maintaining the status quo or driving significant change. "It boils down to this: Should we tread water? Or we should make waves?" he posed to conference attendees. "Delegates, we're going to make waves. Big waves."
The establishment of the Health Infrastructure portfolio represents a fundamental shift in how the government approaches healthcare projects. This reframing has enabled the comprehensive $4.7 billion investment in healthcare infrastructure during the current term.
This represents the largest hospital building program in Western Australia's history, with multiple facilities set for significant upgrades and expansions.
Key Projects and Timelines
The redevelopment of Royal Perth Hospital and Peel Health Campus stand as flagship projects in this ambitious program. However, another significant development involves the acquisition of the Mt Lawley hospital from St John of God Health Care.
"That's around 100 new public beds," Mr Cook explained. "It's eight more operating theatres available to public patients for surgery, and there's additional land that we could use to expand health services or aged care down the track."
The Premier highlighted that bringing this facility into public hands could happen "within the space of a year," providing much-needed capacity relatively quickly. However, he acknowledged potential challenges, noting that the Peel Health Campus handback to the state took four years, including a year-long delay.
This comprehensive approach to healthcare infrastructure demonstrates the Cook government's commitment to addressing systemic pressures while preparing for future population growth and healthcare demands across Western Australia.
