❓ Question regarding delays and cost blowouts in the Geraldton Health Campus emergency department expansion. The Minister defends the government's commitment and progress, citing past neglect and current challenges.
AnsweredQoN 331Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
GERALDTON HEALTH CAMPUS —
EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT
331. Ms M. BEARD to the Minister for Health:
I refer to the Australian Institute
of Health and Welfare highlighting that a record high number of patients are presenting at the emergency department of the
Geraldton Health Campus at a time when staff numbers are critically low.
Given
that it has been over seven years since the Geraldton community was promised
that its ED would be e xpanded, that only 55 per cent of patients
presenting to ED are being treated within the recommended time and that the
price tag has blown out by 127 per cent, when will this government start making
regional health a priority and actually deliver better outcomes for the
Geraldton community and the regions?
EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT
331. Ms M. BEARD to the Minister for Health:
I refer to the Australian Institute
of Health and Welfare highlighting that a record high number of patients are presenting at the emergency department of the
Geraldton Health Campus at a time when staff numbers are critically low.
Given
that it has been over seven years since the Geraldton community was promised
that its ED would be e xpanded, that only 55 per cent of patients
presenting to ED are being treated within the recommended time and that the
price tag has blown out by 127 per cent, when will this government start making
regional health a priority and actually deliver better outcomes for the
Geraldton community and the regions?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for the question
and the interest in Geraldton Health Campus, which the Liberal and National Parties
showed no interest in for the entire eight and a half years they were in
government. They showed absolute zero interest and zero investment in Geraldton
Health Campus. It is only Labor governments that have invested in Geraldton
Health Campus and acknowledge and understand the pressures of that health
campus. We made a strong commitment to expand that health campus. Stage 1 was
completed with the car park and the relocation of the emergency department
entrance to provide the enabling environment for the full redevelopment of that
hospital. We went to tender. The first round
of tenders, as people well know, was around the same time that a cyclone passed through the midwest. The construction market was incredibly constrained and
no-one tendered for that job. We went back out to tender proactively, inviting
tier 1 construction companies to tender for the work and we appointed Multiplex
in December. We have provided the extra funding required to start the
redevelopment. I am not sure what other commitment the member wants.
Yes, it has cost more money, as has everything. If a person
tries to build a shed, a house, an extension, a hospital or any kind of
infrastructure, it is costing more money, but this government is providing that
funding. We have appointed the contractor and provided the funds and we are
absolutely committed. I acknowledge that Geraldton hospital is busy. It is
probably one of our busiest regional hospitals. Geraldton also lacks a significant
number of aged-care places for regional Western
Australians, with a higher proportion of older adults in the Geraldton hospital for long, long periods, sometimes months—is that not right, member for
Geraldton?—and that puts pressure on the hospital. That is why we have
provided the extra funding and even appointed the contractor. The commitment is
real, and the member will start to see that work happening imminently. We have
done all the due diligence on what we need
to do. I know that the member for Geraldton is working hard and tirelessly to
improve access to other health services in Geraldton like primary care
and aged care. I know that she has been speaking with aged-care providers to
invite them to look at potential opportunities to invest in Geraldton to help
take the pressure off that really important regional hospital.
The hospital will also deliver an expanded emergency
department, an intensive care unit and, for the first time in the midwest, an
inpatient mental health unit. That is really significant. For the first time,
there will be an inpatient mental health unit, which will support not only the
midwest, but also, potentially, people in the Pilbara so that they will not
have to come to Perth. It is a significant expansion. The funding has been
provided and the contractor has been appointed.
and the interest in Geraldton Health Campus, which the Liberal and National Parties
showed no interest in for the entire eight and a half years they were in
government. They showed absolute zero interest and zero investment in Geraldton
Health Campus. It is only Labor governments that have invested in Geraldton
Health Campus and acknowledge and understand the pressures of that health
campus. We made a strong commitment to expand that health campus. Stage 1 was
completed with the car park and the relocation of the emergency department
entrance to provide the enabling environment for the full redevelopment of that
hospital. We went to tender. The first round
of tenders, as people well know, was around the same time that a cyclone passed through the midwest. The construction market was incredibly constrained and
no-one tendered for that job. We went back out to tender proactively, inviting
tier 1 construction companies to tender for the work and we appointed Multiplex
in December. We have provided the extra funding required to start the
redevelopment. I am not sure what other commitment the member wants.
Yes, it has cost more money, as has everything. If a person
tries to build a shed, a house, an extension, a hospital or any kind of
infrastructure, it is costing more money, but this government is providing that
funding. We have appointed the contractor and provided the funds and we are
absolutely committed. I acknowledge that Geraldton hospital is busy. It is
probably one of our busiest regional hospitals. Geraldton also lacks a significant
number of aged-care places for regional Western
Australians, with a higher proportion of older adults in the Geraldton hospital for long, long periods, sometimes months—is that not right, member for
Geraldton?—and that puts pressure on the hospital. That is why we have
provided the extra funding and even appointed the contractor. The commitment is
real, and the member will start to see that work happening imminently. We have
done all the due diligence on what we need
to do. I know that the member for Geraldton is working hard and tirelessly to
improve access to other health services in Geraldton like primary care
and aged care. I know that she has been speaking with aged-care providers to
invite them to look at potential opportunities to invest in Geraldton to help
take the pressure off that really important regional hospital.
The hospital will also deliver an expanded emergency
department, an intensive care unit and, for the first time in the midwest, an
inpatient mental health unit. That is really significant. For the first time,
there will be an inpatient mental health unit, which will support not only the
midwest, but also, potentially, people in the Pilbara so that they will not
have to come to Perth. It is a significant expansion. The funding has been
provided and the contractor has been appointed.
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