❓ The Minister for Health provides an update on the $73.3 million redevelopment of Geraldton Health Campus, highlighting completed forward works, upcoming construction phases, and the benefits for the Midwest region, particularly in mental health and emergency services.
AnsweredQoN 195Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
GERALDTON HEALTH CAMPUS — REDEVELOPMENT
195. Ms L. DALTON to the Minister for Health:
I refer to the McGowan Labor
government's significant investment in regional hospitals and health
services.
Will the minister update the house
on this investment, including an update on the much-needed expansion to Geraldton
Health Campus, and outline to the house what this investment in health services
will mean for those not only in my community, but also right across regional
WA?
195. Ms L. DALTON to the Minister for Health:
I refer to the McGowan Labor
government's significant investment in regional hospitals and health
services.
Will the minister update the house
on this investment, including an update on the much-needed expansion to Geraldton
Health Campus, and outline to the house what this investment in health services
will mean for those not only in my community, but also right across regional
WA?
AnswerView source ↗
That is a good question, and I thank
the member for it. I am very pleased to be able to report on the McGowan
government's commitment to investment in Geraldton Health Campus. I remember
when I first came to this place as shadow Minister for Health. I went to visit
Geraldton Health Campus and they talked about the great work that the Gallop Labor government had done in the first
stage of the development of that hospital, creating a modern health campus in Geraldton. It is the jewel in the crown of midwest health services.
I
was then saddened to see, over the following eight and a half years, not a dollar
of investment being spent on that hospital, so it is with great pride
that I report that the McGowan government's $73.3 million investment in Geraldton Health Campus will put patients
first in the midwest region. It will involve an expansion of the emergency department, including a four-bed mental
health short-stay unit; integrated mental health services, including a 12- bed—four
secure and eight open—adult health inpatient unit, with a co-located
mental health community treatment team; expanded critical care services,
including the relocation of four high-dependency unit beds and the
establishment of four intensive care unit beds into a combined intensive care
unit–high-dependency unit; and an essential engineering services
upgrade, including replacement of the chillers. Also, 2D and 3D artists have
been selected through an expression of interest process as part of the Percent
for Art Scheme. Extensive community engagement is planned to ensure that
midwest residents and groups have input into the final art pieces. Excitingly,
the exterior and other spaces will incorporate art elements that reflect the
region's Aboriginal cultural landmarks, industries and history.
As of 1 April, the $8.54 million
forward works package at Geraldton Health Campus has met practical completion.
The completion of forward works has delivered a new hospital main entrance on
the southern side of the campus, with a covered canopy and a public bus parking
area. However, the most important element—an element that I know the
member for Geraldton is particularly excited about—is that we have
supported the hospital's services for consumers with the delivery of
422 new parking bays, bringing the total number of parking bays to 840. We know
that health consumers around the world judge a hospital on two things: first,
whether they can eat the food, and second, whether they can park at the
hospital! It is really pleasing to see that these forward works have now taken
place.
We will soon move into the advanced
works of the redevelopment of the hospital, which will see construction
beginning in the last quarter of 2021. That will include the expanded emergency
department and integrated mental health works, which are expected to be
completed by 2023, with the balance of works in intensive care and the expanded
HDU expected to be completed in 2024.
I am really excited about the great
progress we are making at this hospital. We have broken the hospital contracts
down into smaller, bite-size pieces so that local subcontractors can get the
rewards of being successful in winning those contracts and therefore getting
local workers to do that work. It means that the community, by and large, can continue to see growth in this great hospital. The
last time there was a major investment in Geraldton Health Campus was under the Gallop Labor government; stage 2 is
now galloping forward under the McGowan Labor government!
the member for it. I am very pleased to be able to report on the McGowan
government's commitment to investment in Geraldton Health Campus. I remember
when I first came to this place as shadow Minister for Health. I went to visit
Geraldton Health Campus and they talked about the great work that the Gallop Labor government had done in the first
stage of the development of that hospital, creating a modern health campus in Geraldton. It is the jewel in the crown of midwest health services.
I
was then saddened to see, over the following eight and a half years, not a dollar
of investment being spent on that hospital, so it is with great pride
that I report that the McGowan government's $73.3 million investment in Geraldton Health Campus will put patients
first in the midwest region. It will involve an expansion of the emergency department, including a four-bed mental
health short-stay unit; integrated mental health services, including a 12- bed—four
secure and eight open—adult health inpatient unit, with a co-located
mental health community treatment team; expanded critical care services,
including the relocation of four high-dependency unit beds and the
establishment of four intensive care unit beds into a combined intensive care
unit–high-dependency unit; and an essential engineering services
upgrade, including replacement of the chillers. Also, 2D and 3D artists have
been selected through an expression of interest process as part of the Percent
for Art Scheme. Extensive community engagement is planned to ensure that
midwest residents and groups have input into the final art pieces. Excitingly,
the exterior and other spaces will incorporate art elements that reflect the
region's Aboriginal cultural landmarks, industries and history.
As of 1 April, the $8.54 million
forward works package at Geraldton Health Campus has met practical completion.
The completion of forward works has delivered a new hospital main entrance on
the southern side of the campus, with a covered canopy and a public bus parking
area. However, the most important element—an element that I know the
member for Geraldton is particularly excited about—is that we have
supported the hospital's services for consumers with the delivery of
422 new parking bays, bringing the total number of parking bays to 840. We know
that health consumers around the world judge a hospital on two things: first,
whether they can eat the food, and second, whether they can park at the
hospital! It is really pleasing to see that these forward works have now taken
place.
We will soon move into the advanced
works of the redevelopment of the hospital, which will see construction
beginning in the last quarter of 2021. That will include the expanded emergency
department and integrated mental health works, which are expected to be
completed by 2023, with the balance of works in intensive care and the expanded
HDU expected to be completed in 2024.
I am really excited about the great
progress we are making at this hospital. We have broken the hospital contracts
down into smaller, bite-size pieces so that local subcontractors can get the
rewards of being successful in winning those contracts and therefore getting
local workers to do that work. It means that the community, by and large, can continue to see growth in this great hospital. The
last time there was a major investment in Geraldton Health Campus was under the Gallop Labor government; stage 2 is
now galloping forward under the McGowan Labor government!
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