May 16 2018 Key Perth health infrastructure needs overlooked The 2018/19 State Budget fails to address key health and mental health infrastructure needs in Western Australia. Shadow Minister for Health; Mental Health Sean L’Estrange said major health infrastructure upgrades have either been ignored or inadequately addressed. “Royal Perth Hospital’s needs have been overlooked by Premier McGowan and Minister Cook in the State Government’s Health Budget,” Mr L’Estrange said. “In opposition, Minister Cook stated in 2016 that ‘RPH needs a new Emergency Department, acute care block and single rooms’, yet he has not allocated funds to match these priorities. “The Peel Health Campus has also been let down by Labor. Earlier this year, Minister Cook said there ‘definitely need[s] to be some sort of expansion in the physical capacity’ of the Peel Health Campus. While the Budget allocates funding for upgrades to the car park and CCTV system it does not address key issues with the hospital’s Emergency Department and elective surgery waiting times.” Mr L’Estrange said King Edward Memorial Hospital has also dropped off the State Government’s health radar. “Despite the Interim Sustainable Health Review stating there needs to be a commitment to progress plans for King Edward Memorial Hospital and for the colocation of women’s health services to be within the QEII Medical Centre, we see no forward planning or commitment,” Mr L’Estrange said. “The State Government is also letting Mental Health patients down with Graylands Hospital being completely ignored in this Budget with no funding allocated to it despite the AMA stating that it is not fit for purpose.” “While the State Government is busy opening facilities commissioned by the former Liberal Government, it is not recognising the ongoing priority needs of our health and mental health infrastructure and programs. “More needs to be done to focus on existing pressure points and to plan for the future to ensure the optimal delivery of health care to the people of Western Australia.” Media Contact |
