GG 21/12
9 March 2012
People living in Bunbury and the wider south-west region will soon have access to more hospital emergency beds and critical care services with work to begin shortly to expand and redevelop Bunbury Regional Hospital’s emergency department, Special Minister of State Gary Gray said today.
“The second stage of the Bunbury Hospital redevelopment project will begin in a few weeks and will increase the number of emergency department treatment spaces from 15 to 27,” Mr Gray said.
“The third and final stage of the project will include a ‘fast track’ area and 10-bed Short Stay Unit to reduce the pressure on the emergency department and other parts of the hospital.”
The Federal Government is contributing $14.1 million to the $14.9 million expansion.
“This work follows on from the redevelopment of the hospital’s High Dependency Unit (HDU), completed in March last year. The upgraded HDU is now able to better support the hospital’s intensive care services and provide critical care to more people in the south-west area,” he said.
The expansion of the emergency department is expected to be complete by early 2013. The new Short Stay Unit and fast track emergency area is expected to be operational later that year. Local Bunbury builder Perkins (WA) Ltd has been contracted to carry out the work.
“The population of Bunbury and the south-west area continues to increase at a rate higher than the state’s average, and health services have struggled to keep up with the growing demand,” Mr Gray said.
“The redevelopment and expansion of emergency and critical care services will help to take pressure off the hospital, while also reducing the burden on hospitals in Perth where patients are transferred if Bunbury Regional Hospital is at capacity.
“The redevelopment work will ensure Bunbury Regional Hospital is better placed to give local people better access to quality care, closer to their homes.”
Mr Gray said the redevelopment work was being funded with $14.1 million from the Australian Government as part of a $75 million investment to help take pressure off WA’s public hospitals.
“The Australian Government is investing a further $351 million in Western Australia as part of national health reform to improve elective surgery, emergency and sub-acute care services across the state.”
| Media Contacts: | Phone: |
|---|---|
| John Arthur (Gary Gray) | 0408 991 261 |