- Cook Labor Government to purchase Mount Lawley Hospital for $80 million, funded by the Building Hospitals Fund.
- Part of $224.8 million investment to buy, commission and commence full operation of Mount Lawley Hospital.
- Acquisition brings the 196-bed hospital into public hands.
- Existing hospital services to continue throughout transition to State ownership on 31 August 2026.
The Cook Labor Government is delivering a major boost to Western Australia's public health system, finalising a contract with St John of God Health Care to purchase Mount Lawley Hospital for $80 million.
The acquisition, funded through the Government's record $2 billion Building Hospitals Fund, will bring the 196-bed facility into public hands from 31 August 2026.
The purchase will add 118 beds, eight operating theatres and two procedure rooms to the public hospital system, with the remaining beds already contracted to the WA public health system.
This is part of the more than 900 beds being added to the public health system.
The Cook Labor Government has negotiated early access to 53 of the 118 beds to help relieve pressure on public tertiary hospitals, with most of those beds already available.
All existing public hospital activity offered at Mount Lawley Hospital will be maintained throughout the transition.
The Department of Health and East Metropolitan Health Service have developed a transition plan to commission Mount Lawley Hospital for the safe delivery of public hospital activity.
In addition to the $80 million purchase, the Cook Labor Government will invest:
- $88.3 million to procure vital medical and ICT equipment, carry out necessary building works, including to the Central Sterilisation Services Department and theatres, and to convert the existing medical centre into a public outpatient centre;
- $34.1 million to support a safe and seamless transition, including staff onboarding, training, establishing systems and procedures; and
- $22.4 million to deliver additional public contracted hospital activity until the hospital transfers into public ownership.
The Department of Health is working closely with St John of God Health Care to provide employment opportunities within the State system for Mount Lawley Hospital staff.
The agreement comes 20 months after the successful return of Peel Health Campus to public hands, and forms part of the Cook Labor Government's additional $1.5 billion investment in health infrastructure in the State Budget 2026-27.
As stated by Premier Roger Cook:
"Bringing St John of God Mount Lawley Hospital fully into public hands is part of my government's commitment to deliver health and hospitals for all Western Australians.
"Through the 2026-27 State Budget, we're locking in more beds to ensure all Western Australians can get the healthcare they need, when they need it."
As stated by Treasurer Rita Saffioti:
"The Cook Labor Government is investing a record amount in health infrastructure, and we will continue to deliver the hospitals and beds Western Australians need.
"Bringing Mount Lawley Hospital into public hands will add significant capacity to our health system, including more beds, operating theatres and procedure rooms.
"Our $2 billion Building Hospitals Fund means we can deliver the biggest ever health infrastructure program in our history.
"We're buying a hospital, building hospitals, and upgrading hospitals across our suburbs and regions."
As stated by Health Minister Meredith Hammat:
"Adding an entire hospital to our public health system is a huge deal, and I'm pleased to say that the deal is now done.
"We look forward to welcoming many more doctors, nurses, allied health professionals and other support staff into the ever-growing WA Health workforce.
"This is about boosting capacity in our public health system now and into our future, ensuring Western Australians can access the healthcare they need when they need it."
As stated by Health Infrastructure Minister John Carey:
"Our growing and ageing population means there will continue to be pressure on Western Australian hospitals and that's why we're investing to add capacity now, and into the future.
"This government's record building hospitals program includes significant investments to build and expand hospitals across the State.
"The Cook Labor Government is also looking at new ways to add beds to the system, including through the purchase of an entire hospital in Mount Lawley."
