❓ Question on Notice regarding health funding allocations in the South-West region, including specific projects for Margaret River, Manjimup, Bridgetown, and Bunbury hospitals, as well as ambulance services. The government response provides some details on regional health investments but deflects on specific funding for some projects.
AnsweredQoN 441Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
(1) Referencing the current state budget, investment is being made into regional hospitals. Does this funding include any works for the Margaret River Hospital: (a) If so, where is this located in the budget and what does it include in terms of scope and dollar figure? (2) As part of the $1billion investment into supporting the delivery of core hospital and non-hospital services referenced in the current state budget, please identify where (if anywhere) funding has been allocated for the purchase of a CT Scanner for the Manjimup Hospital? (3) Has the $1 million required for reroofing of the leaking Bridgetown Hospital Emergency Department been included in the current state budget: (a) If so, where is this located in the budget; and (b) what does it include in terms of scope and dollar figure? (4) The ‘Delivering our Vision for the Vision for Bunbury, Vasse and Warren-Blackwood’ document published in February 2025 states an election promise of “A commitment to deliver urgent care clinics in the regions to relieve pressure on emergency departments.” Where is this located in the budget: (a) what does it include in terms of scope and dollar figure; and (b) Which regional locations will this be delivered to? (5) Given the consistent year-on-year reduction in funding for ambulance and patient transport services over the forward estimates – I ask what assumptions underlie these cuts: (a) How will WA Health maintain service levels, particularly in regional areas, as funding declines despite rising demand and community reliance: (i) Is this being funded elsewhere; and (ii) If so, where?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
16 September 2025
Responded by
Minister for Health
Response time
9 days
(1) – (3)
The Cook Government is investing significantly into regional health infrastructure and services across the South-West and Great Southern including $471 million in the Bunbury Hospital Redevelopment, $36.3 million to expand the WA Virtual Emergency Department and enable people to access expert emergency care from their own home, no matter where they live, $13.8 million to commence a mental health child and adolescent Acute Care and Response Team in Bunbury, $12.4 million for the establishment and operation of a residential Great Southern Drug and Alcohol Rehabilitation Centre, $1 million to commence planning a 30-bed ward delivered via innovative modular technology at the Albany Health Campus, $12.2 million to enable virtual access to specialist mental health care through a Virtual Infant, Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service Hub (VICAMHS) for rural and remote areas of WA, $8.2 million to establish GP ASK to connect WA GPs to dedicated and experienced specialists without the need for patients to travel to a hospital.
(4)
The State Government continues to work with the Commonwealth to improve access to urgent care in regional areas. Urgent Care Clinics are administered as a Federal Government initiative, and the State will continue to work with them to ensure integration with WA’s health system.
(5)
The State Government remains committed to ambulance and patient transport services. Funding will be maintained over the forward estimates. WA Health and Treasury will utilise contemporary service demand forecasting to inform proportionate funding allocations.
The Cook Government is investing significantly into regional health infrastructure and services across the South-West and Great Southern including $471 million in the Bunbury Hospital Redevelopment, $36.3 million to expand the WA Virtual Emergency Department and enable people to access expert emergency care from their own home, no matter where they live, $13.8 million to commence a mental health child and adolescent Acute Care and Response Team in Bunbury, $12.4 million for the establishment and operation of a residential Great Southern Drug and Alcohol Rehabilitation Centre, $1 million to commence planning a 30-bed ward delivered via innovative modular technology at the Albany Health Campus, $12.2 million to enable virtual access to specialist mental health care through a Virtual Infant, Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service Hub (VICAMHS) for rural and remote areas of WA, $8.2 million to establish GP ASK to connect WA GPs to dedicated and experienced specialists without the need for patients to travel to a hospital.
(4)
The State Government continues to work with the Commonwealth to improve access to urgent care in regional areas. Urgent Care Clinics are administered as a Federal Government initiative, and the State will continue to work with them to ensure integration with WA’s health system.
(5)
The State Government remains committed to ambulance and patient transport services. Funding will be maintained over the forward estimates. WA Health and Treasury will utilise contemporary service demand forecasting to inform proportionate funding allocations.
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