The State Government will spend more than $50 million on a major redevelopment of Albany Hospital, premier Alan Carpenter announced today.
The State Government will spend more than $50 million on a major redevelopment of Albany Hospital, premier Alan Carpenter announced today.
Mr Carpenter said the hospital would undergo a major transformation, with improvements planned for the Emergency Department, operating theatres, day surgery, maternity wards and mental health services.
Design work will commence in March 2008 with tenders to be called in October 2008. Construction is scheduled to begin late 2008, with completion expected mid-2011.
"The ED will be significantly upgraded to provide an extra 10 treatment bays, which will reduce wait times for patients," the Premier said.
"The hospital's two operating theatres will also receive a major refurbishment, with the addition of the latest medical equipment for the hospital's general, orthopaedic, gynaecological and other surgery.
"The upgraded theatres will also provide opportunities for public and private sector partnerships, allowing private patients to have their surgeries performed in the public hospital's state-of-the-art theatres."
Other areas receiving upgrades include the high dependency unit; rehabilitation ward; sterilization areas; and
admissions area.
Mr Carpenter said maternity and mental health services would also be a focus of the redevelopment.
"The maternity ward will be upgraded, with private ensuites added to each of the three birthing suites," he said.
"The number of inpatient mental health beds at the hospital will increase by four to a total of 13, allowing more residents to receive care locally.
"The Medical Imaging Department will be remodelled to accommodate the Picture Archiving and Communications System, which is the latest technology in medical imaging and will allow digital pictures to be electronically sent throughout the health system.
"This system will reduce patient referrals as the images can be viewed by specialists in Perth who provide treatment advice back to local health professionals."
The Premier said the upgrades would extend to other areas of the hospital and would also improve links between local and tertiary facilities in Perth.
"Closer networks between Perth metropolitan and local services will be formed, giving Albany's medical professionals better access to the expertise of clinical specialists from tertiary hospitals.
"The redevelopment will also include a major upgrade of engineering services, including plumbing, electrical, sewage and drainage systems.
"The State Government is very pleased to be able to provide the Great Southern with a greatly improved hospital which will deliver a high standard of patient care to the community.
"The hospital upgrade is part of a 10-year health blueprint, with a $4billion capital works program for hospitals across the State.
"This project is among the more than $600million invested in country health service capital works over the next six years.
"It is the biggest investment in health care in Western Australia's history and is part of our commitment to provide all Western Australians with health care closer to where they live."
