Healthcare Infrastructure Boost in WA
By Petrina Smith
Tuesday, 08 July, 2014
Tuesday, 08 July, 2014
Twenty-six small hospitals and nursing posts in the Central Wheatbelt and Great Southern regions of Western Australia will be upgraded as part of a major $325.8million healthcare infrastructure boost.
听Health Minister Kim Hames and Regional Development Minister Terry Redman today announced $108.8million of funding for a range of health projects as part of the State Government鈥檚 Southern Inland Health Initiative (SIHI).
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Dr Hames said work on the hospital upgrades and nursing posts was expected to start before the end of the year and be complete late in 2016.
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鈥淐ommunity consultations and planning will continue to be undertaken to determine what works will be carried out to the small hospitals and nursing posts,鈥� he said.听鈥淚n some cases the works may involve infrastructure upgrades and may include an upgrade to the existing facility, this will be determined during the planning and consultation phase.鈥�
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Regional Development Minister Terry Redman said planning for health reform has been under way since 2011 and a number of milestones had been reached to date.
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鈥淭hese include the installation of Telehealth strategy across the region, an attraction strategy to increase the number of General Practitioners in regional towns, a 24/7 roster in larger emergency departments and an Emergency Telehealth Service,鈥� Mr Redman said.
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The $325.8million SIHI investment will involve $173.7million worth of upgrades to six district hospitals, $108.8million for upgrades and refurbishment of small hospitals and nursing posts and a further $43.3million towards the Primary Health Care Demonstration Site program, with the first two sites in Pingelly and Cunderdin under way.
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The towns to benefit from the small hospital and nursing post refurbishment are:
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Wheatbelt
Lake Grace; Wagin; Dalwallinu; Jurien Bay; Moora; York; Southern Cross; Boddington; Dumbleyung; Beverley; Wundowie; Wyalkatchem; Goomalling; Wongan Hills; Bruce Rock; Kellerberrin; Kununoppin; Quairading; Corrigin; Narembeen; Kondinin; Mukinbudin and听Williams
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Great Southern
Kojonup; Gnowangerup and Tambellup
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