The McGowan Labor Government is investing significantly in Western Australia's health and mental health hospital services as part of the 2021-22 State Budget that has been handed down today.
The State Budget includes a $3.1 billion allocation to expand WA's health system, with $1.3 billion towards improving health infrastructure, major hospital redevelopments and expansions underway across metropolitan and regional WA.
Funding of $960 million is being invested into WA health and hospital services, and $487 million will go towards COVID-19 response and preparedness measures to keep WA safe from the global pandemic.
The significant investment builds on the McGowan Government's $1.8 billion commitment towards a new Women and Babies Hospital at the QEII medical precinct, with funding already secured, and the State Budget includes an additional $5.4 million to support the development and planning.
The $1.3 billion investment includes works and updates at Joondalup Health Campus, Fremantle Hospital, Bunbury Regional Hospital, Peel Health Campus, Geraldton Health Campus, Laverton Hospital, Tom Price Hospital, Newman Health Service and more.
Other key investments include a $100 million emergency department support package, developed to better support the health workforce, improve patient flow, reduce bed block and relieve ambulance congestion, comprising of:
- $37 million for tailored support to individuals with complex mental health needs who repeatedly present at emergency departments;
- $24.6 million for new mental health emergency centres in Rockingham and Armadale;
- $2.3 million to expand the virtual emergency medicine system to improve ambulance and emergency department pathways from Fiona Stanley Hospital to Rockingham General Hospital and Peel Health Campus;
- $35.6 million package that has been invested to bolster the health workforce to help alleviate demand on the health system, including:
- At least 50 additional full-time equivalent staff including medical, nursing, allied health and support services
- $4.8 million towards additional staff for patient monitoring in waiting areas at the Perth Children's Hospital emergency department
- $2 million for a targeted recruitment campaign which will be undertaken to attract more staff into the health system.
Investments as part of the 2021-22 State Budget are expected to deliver 332 additional beds across the health system supported by approximately 100 new doctors and 500 new nurses working on WA hospital wards.
Of the 332 new beds opening across WA hospitals, 223 are general beds and 109 are mental health beds.
Graduate nurses and midwives employed in WA hospitals will increase from 700 a year to 1,100 in 2021 and 1,200 in 2022 - delivering on a McGowan Government election commitment. The McGowan Government has just announced an additional 170 graduate nurses to be employed in COVID-19 response positions.
Regional WA communities will benefit from a range of initiatives in the State Budget including:
- $19.7 million to increase the Patient Assisted Travel Scheme subsidy from $60 per night to $100 per night, and to expand eligibility for patient support escorts to patients from vulnerable and disadvantaged groups as well as maternity patients;
- Beginning construction of the new $48.5 million consolidated health service at the existing Meekatharra Hospital site, including acute care, emergency services, mental health, community aged care and other primary care services;
- $10.9 million for the Royal Flying Doctor Service to refurbish and replace aircraft engines;
- $4.4 million to the WA Country Health Service to cover the shortfall in services at multipurpose sites, following the transition to the Commonwealth Home Support Program from the Home and Community Care program;
- $11.2 million towards new dental therapy centres which includes $4.2 million to operate the adult public dental clinic at Narrogin Regional Hospital;
- $2.8 million over four years to establish women's community health services in the Kimberley, including services for women's mental health, family, domestic and sexual violence;
- $2.2 million to establish a Women's Community Health Service in the Peel region that offers health and support services and information for those experiencing mental illness, family, domestic and sexual violence or who have experienced sexual assault or childhood sexual abuse;
- $2 million for the WA Country Health Service to continue Regional Renal Support Teams;
- $2 million to undertake detailed planning and scoping of works for Stage Two of the redevelopment of the Geraldton Health Campus;
- $1.8 million to employ a permanent GP to conduct cervical cancer screening and other women's primary health services at the existing Goldfields Women's Health Care Centre;
- $785,000 for a 12-month Women and Newborn Health Service pilot program delivered by Karratha's Women's Place Inc. to provide health and support services and information to women experiencing mental illness, domestic and sexual violence or who have experienced sexual assault or childhood sexual abuse.
For more information, visit https://www.ourstatebudget.wa.gov.au
As stated by Premier Mark McGowan:
"This big Budget boost builds on our Government's ongoing significant investments in hospitals and health services over the past four years.
"Health is a key priority which is why these investments are vital as our health staff continue to do wonderful work in putting patients first, and these initiatives are about supporting their efforts.
"The State Budget sets up WA's future by building on our record of strong financial management to keep the WA economy growing, create quality local jobs, invest in key services, and deliver on our election commitments for all Western Australians."
As stated by Health Minister Roger Cook:
"The McGowan Government's strong financial management over the past four years has put the State's budget on a sustainable footing and given the capacity to provide this record funding boost.
"We've continued to make significant investments in hospitals and health services over the past four years, and our $1.9 billion investment in the State Budget will help address the unprecedented demand on our health and mental health system.
"This additional funding means more services, more beds and more staff across our hospitals."
