- New $4.1 million Specialist Care Nursery now operational at Albany Health Campus
- The hospital can now care for preterm newborns from 34 weeks, and other complex cases
- The nursery provides care closer to home for more babies in the Great Southern
More Great Southern families with babies born preterm will be able to stay closer to home, with a new Specialist Care Nursery now operational at Albany Health Campus.
The Level 2A Specialist Care Nursery is part of a $4.1 million Cook Labor Government commitment to care for babies that would have otherwise been transported to Perth after their birth.
The new nursery has doubled capacity to four beds and is equipped to care for babies born from 34 weeks, as well as newborns with complex health issues.
The nursery will also allow for an earlier repatriation of preterm babies that require initial care in Perth, bringing them home sooner.
Albany Health Campus' workforce has also been bolstered, with additional registered nurses working alongside the midwives and paediatricians who staff the nursery.
As stated by Health Minister Meredith Hammat:
"More than 550 babies are born at Albany Health Campus every year, but until now preterm babies born before 37 weeks gestation needed to be transferred to Perth for treatment in those fragile early days and weeks.
"This Specialist Care Nursery means more families can stay closer to home and their support networks while their babies receive the care they need.
"The Cook Labor Government is committed to ensuring every Western Australian can access high quality healthcare, no matter where they live."
As stated by Health Infrastructure Minister John Carey:
"The Cook Labor Government's investment in the Specialist Care Nursery has doubled capacity, expanding care for mums and babies in the Great Southern.
"We are delivering on an ambitious health infrastructure program, including a new Women and Babies hospital and major health upgrades across regional Western Australia."
