The Osborne Park Hospital expansion is underway with contractors being invited to submit an expression of interest to tender for the proposed works, which includes a new level 2A neonatal nursery, fit-for-purpose maternity assessment unit and 16-bed rehabilitation unit.
Premier Mark McGowan and Health Minister Roger Cook announced the next stage to the expansion works and unveiled the first artist's impressions of the new rehabilitation unit and neonatal nursery.
Comprehensive plans will soon come to life with the completion of construction expected by the end of 2021.
The enhanced obstetric services, including a neonatal nursery and fit-for-purpose maternity assessment unit will enable local mothers with low to moderate risk pregnancies to give birth closer to where they live.
The higher level of care provided at the nursery will also reduce the need for babies requiring specialist care to be transferred to King Edward Memorial Hospital or the new Perth Children's Hospital, enabling more mothers and their babies to remain at the same hospital following their labour experience.
The new 16-bed rehabilitation unit will comprise of six existing stroke beds, as well as 10 additional new beds, and specialises in caring for patients aged over 65 years requiring rehabilitation.
In a first of its kind for Perth's northern suburbs, Osborne Park Hospital will be home to a centralised therapy hub that will provide inpatient and outpatient services to thousands of patients requiring rehabilitation in a contemporary environment.
For the first time ever, patients will have access to a range of allied health and medical staff providing inpatient, outpatient and day therapy services. The state-of-the-art rehabilitation unit's therapy space will be 90 per cent larger and will enhance recovery outcomes by enabling patients to more easily interact with one another.
The project is being delivered through a joint funding arrangement, with the State Government contributing $14.3 million, and with the State securing the remainder of funds from the Commonwealth Government.
As stated by Premier Mark McGowan:
"We promised to expand Osborne Park Hospital and that's what we're doing. My Government is progressing a suite of upgrades to hospitals and health services across the State.
"It's expansion projects like these that help improve our health services in the suburbs where people live, and create jobs through construction.
"While we've committed more than $230 million towards a brand new women's and maternity hospital to be co-located at the QEII precinct in Nedlands, it's essential we continue to upgrade our maternity services at hospitals like Osborne Park so more people can access care closer to home."
As stated by Health Minister Roger Cook:
"The McGowan Government will build a 2A neonatal nursery, a proper and functional maternity assessment unit, put in an extra 10 rehabilitation beds and improve the therapy for rehabilitation patients with a new rehabilitation unit.
"I'm pleased the plans are underway with the release of the expressions of interest process and the new artist impressions for these improved features at Osborne Park Hospital.
"More than 1,450 babies are born here each year and while not all of them require a higher level of care, in the future if they do, these babies can stay with their mums here at Osborne Park Hospital."
As stated by Balcatta MLA David Michael:
"Osborne Park Hospital has been providing a wonderful service to our community for 57 years so it's terrific the Government has recognised it's in need of an upgrade and is expanding it, providing staff with modern and fit-for-purpose facilities so patients can be better treated.
"Around 1,500 patients receive rehab treatment and care at the current rehab gym, so it's vital for people in our northern suburbs to continue to have these specialised health services in their area and it's even better that the spaces will be far bigger and far more contemporary."
As stated by Kingsley MLA Jessica Stojkovski:
"I hear firsthand from families who would like to have the option to have their baby closer to home but they'd also like to be with their baby for their entire hospital experience - should any complications arise. They'll soon be able to do that at Osborne Park Hospital once these upgrades are complete.
"That means that fewer babies will need to be transferred to other hospitals for specialist care, keeping them in the same hospital as their mothers."
