❓ Mr. Kirkup asks about options and costs for the new women's and babies' hospital at QEII. The Minister states it's too early to provide specifics but acknowledges a cost exceeding $1 billion and highlights funding commitments from BHP and TAB commercialisation.
AnsweredQoN 1131Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
WOMEN'S AND
BABIES' HOSPITAL
1131. Mr Z.R.F. KIRKUP to the Minister for Health:
I refer to the minister's
announcement about the construction of a new maternity hospital. Can the
minister outline to the house the options that are being considered at the
Queen Elizabeth II Medical Centre site for the new hospital and the associated
costs for each option?
BABIES' HOSPITAL
1131. Mr Z.R.F. KIRKUP to the Minister for Health:
I refer to the minister's
announcement about the construction of a new maternity hospital. Can the
minister outline to the house the options that are being considered at the
Queen Elizabeth II Medical Centre site for the new hospital and the associated
costs for each option?
AnswerView source ↗
In short, no. We are not at the
stage of understanding the best configuration for the new women's and
newborns' hospital; nor, at this stage, are we anywhere near assessing
the costs associated with it. I will say that when I sit down with members of
the department and talk about these things, they do not think there will be
much change out of $1 billion, no matter what we do.
As members would be aware, it was
part of the Reid review, which provided a long-term infrastructure vision for
the health system in Western Australia. It has long been held that the new
women's and newborns' hospital should be at the Queen Elizabeth
II site and there are a range of options for that. As part of the $3.3 million
that we set aside for planning for the new women's and newborns'
hospital, those issues are being considered. It is still very early days and we
are not in that position.
I will take this opportunity to note
that when we recently settled a dispute with BHP, the Premier provided the
leadership that the state needs and asserted that $250 million would go into a special
purpose account, which would stand in perpetuity for the future so that when we
get to the point of building this hospital, the funds will be ready to go. In addition, the Premier has also gone
further and said that the funds that will be made available after the costs are taken into account relating to the commercialisation of the TAB will also
go to the building of the new women's and
babies' hospital. That is the sort of commitment that we need to make
sure that our health system continues to be renewed so that we can provide the
next generation of young mothers and their children who are born in this state the state-of-the-art facilities that they deserve. It is great to see a government
so forthrightly back the health sector and the doctors, nurses and midwives who
work in it through these sorts of commitments. We are starting to accumulate
the funds. We have the initial planning money in place and, as a result of
federal government commitments, we also have some standing money to allow for
the ongoing maintenance and updating of King Edward Memorial Hospital for Women
so it can continue to provide quality service.
stage of understanding the best configuration for the new women's and
newborns' hospital; nor, at this stage, are we anywhere near assessing
the costs associated with it. I will say that when I sit down with members of
the department and talk about these things, they do not think there will be
much change out of $1 billion, no matter what we do.
As members would be aware, it was
part of the Reid review, which provided a long-term infrastructure vision for
the health system in Western Australia. It has long been held that the new
women's and newborns' hospital should be at the Queen Elizabeth
II site and there are a range of options for that. As part of the $3.3 million
that we set aside for planning for the new women's and newborns'
hospital, those issues are being considered. It is still very early days and we
are not in that position.
I will take this opportunity to note
that when we recently settled a dispute with BHP, the Premier provided the
leadership that the state needs and asserted that $250 million would go into a special
purpose account, which would stand in perpetuity for the future so that when we
get to the point of building this hospital, the funds will be ready to go. In addition, the Premier has also gone
further and said that the funds that will be made available after the costs are taken into account relating to the commercialisation of the TAB will also
go to the building of the new women's and
babies' hospital. That is the sort of commitment that we need to make
sure that our health system continues to be renewed so that we can provide the
next generation of young mothers and their children who are born in this state the state-of-the-art facilities that they deserve. It is great to see a government
so forthrightly back the health sector and the doctors, nurses and midwives who
work in it through these sorts of commitments. We are starting to accumulate
the funds. We have the initial planning money in place and, as a result of
federal government commitments, we also have some standing money to allow for
the ongoing maintenance and updating of King Edward Memorial Hospital for Women
so it can continue to provide quality service.
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