Western Australian health facilities including hospitals, health clinics, aged care sites and regional health staff accommodation are set to benefit from the McGowan Government's $81.5 million job-creating package, which will address priority maintenance works.
Premier Mark McGowan and Health Minister Roger Cook announced the major maintenance blitz at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital today which will receive $23.8 million for high priority maintenance works.
The funding, which will be allocated over the next three years, will ensure high priority maintenance works are carried out across 89 WA health facilities - improving conditions for patients and staff, and creating local employment opportunities.
Works will be conducted at both metropolitan and regional hospitals, prioritising works on operational need and represents one of the biggest maintenance investments in WA hospitals to improve health infrastructure and create jobs.
Metropolitan funding of more than $44 million for hospitals will include:
- $23.8 million of works at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital;
- $4.33 million for works at Royal Perth Hospital;
- $1.185 million to Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services in Armadale, Clarkson, Fremantle, Rockingham and Bentley;
- Nearly $3 million each to King Edward Memorial and Osborne Park Hospitals; and
- $1.5 million for Fremantle Hospital.
More than $37 million will also be allocated to regional health services for works including:
- $8.62 million - Wheatbelt health;
- $8.37 million - Midwest health;
- $7.34 million - Southwest health;
- $6.85 million - Kimberley health;
- $4.58 million - Great Southern health; and
- $1.54 million - Pilbara and Goldfields health.
Some of the works at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital include:
- Upgrade of the hospital's main thoroughfare - Watling Walk, including flooring, walls and updates to wayfinding signage;
- Internal building works, painting upgrades, replacement of flooring and completion of G Block roof replacement;
- Fire safety upgrades, including improvements to fire detection and warning system;
- Electrical distribution, switchboard upgrades and replacement of uninterrupted power supply;
- Rectification of disability access/egress from buildings and sanitary facilities;
- An upgrade to Intensive Care Unit bays; and
- Upgrades to 20 patient bathrooms.
As stated by Premier Mark McGowan:
"This major maintenance blitz is about upgrading our public health infrastructure to improve facilities for patients and staff.
"By delivering Budget surpluses, it allows us to responsibly implement major investments to ensure our health facilities are the best they can be.
"This $81.5 million investment for hospital and health site maintenance will deliver a stimulus to the local economy and secures job opportunities for maintenance trades be it electricians, painters, plumbers, builders and carpenters alike."
As stated by Health Minister Roger Cook:
"The McGowan Government is committed to improving our health campuses, where sick and often vulnerable Western Australians are cared for each day.
"This additional money will provide ageing campuses with much-needed funding for high priority maintenance works which will ensure that patients have an enhanced experience at our public hospitals.
"The McGowan Government is committed to putting patients first and this funding represents one of the biggest maintenance investments in WA public hospitals, it will improve infrastructure and create jobs."
As stated by Treasurer Ben Wyatt:
"The McGowan Government's responsible financial management has paid dividends and allows us to undertake initiatives like these.
"This WA jobs initiative will help support the State's economy and deliver ongoing benefits to the WA community.
"The $81.5 million investment builds on the overall $340 million being spent in health infrastructure in 2019-20 alone."
Health Minister's office - 6552 6500
