Senator the Hon. Mathias Cormann
Minister for Finance and the Public Service
Leader of the Government in the Senate
The Hon. Greg Hunt MP
Minister for Health
31 March 2019
The Liberal National Government has announced it will invest $15.1 million to upgrade Perth's iconic King Edward Memorial Hospital (KEMH), completing a long overdue makeover of the facilities infrastructure.
Federal funding will deliver real benefits to Western Australia's only tertiary maternity and gynaecological hospital that will ensure the delivery of the highest standard of care, safety and comfort for both patients, staff and visitors.
Capital works to the Hospital will include – façade repairs, upgrades to the facilities 13 lifts, structural re-enforcement, and renewal of the fire detection and alarm systems, including power supply and back up provisions.
Established in 1916, KEMH oversees approximately 6000 births each year and cares for more than 3000 premature and sick infants.
The Hospital provides care for more than 5000 patients with gynaecological conditions, including cancer and is home to many specialist clinics and services including the Adolescent Antenatal Clinic, Childbirth and Mental Illness Antenatal Clinic, Next Birth after Caesarean Clinic, Women and Newborn Drug and Alcohol Clinic, Menopause Clinic and more.
Minister for Health, Greg Hunt said the government is committed to improving health services throughout Western Australia and building a world class health system.
"Our strong economic management has enabled us to deliver record federal funding for public hospital services in Western Australia, increasing from $1.4 billion in 2012-13 when Labor left office to a record $2.2 billion this year (a 63 percent increase)."
"As part of the new national hospitals agreement that the WA Labor Government has signed on to, Western Australian public hospitals will receive an additional $3.5 billion between 2020 and 2025."
"Through our responsible management of the Australian economy we can afford to provide better health services that Australians need and want," Minister Hunt said.
Recent announcements include the $25 million Peel Hospital upgrade and the development of the $10.4 million Yanchep Health Campus, we are expanding MRI access across the state, providing more mental health services and helping those with drug and alcohol addiction.
"This King Edward Memorial Hospital upgrade will provide services that meet the current and future health care needs of Western Australia's rapidly growing population," Minister Hunt said.
Finance Minister Mathias Cormann welcomed the announcement and said the hospital upgrades would help ensure continued access to high quality care at King Edward Memorial Hospital.
"King Edward Memorial Hospital provides a vital service to patients from across Western Australia. The upgrade of key facilities at the hospital will ensure that the highest standards of care can continue to be delivered."
Relocation is a long-term plan for the hospital, with services to be provided at the current site for at least the next 10 years. So we need to ensure that the hospital can continue to meet current and ongoing clinical and patient support requirements.
The Liberal National Government's strong economic management ensures the continued record investment of funding into vital health initiatives including mental health, life-saving medicines, Medicare and hospitals.
