- $1.2 billion investment in major public hospital infrastructure projects for Western Australia's future as part of 2023-24 Budget
- $99.4 million to complete first stage of Electronic Medical Record at WA hospitals
- $75 million to match Commonwealth funding committed for the Bentley Health Service Surgicentre
- $81.1 million to expand public services at St John of God Public Hospital in Midland
The McGowan Government is bolstering Western Australia's health system with record new funding committed in the 2023-24 State Budget to expand the capacity of WA public hospitals, add more beds, improve patient flow, upgrade digital systems, and build on key infrastructure investments.
Almost $100 million will be provided in this year's Budget to complete the first stage of an Electronic Medical Record (EMR) at WA hospitals.
An EMR will enable real-time sharing of patient information and analytics to support clinical decision-making, patient flow and new virtual models of care.
This crucial first stage will ensure there is a Digital Medical Record with Single Sign-On technology and Virtual Desktop Infrastructure at all public hospitals in WA, as well as the delivery of an EMR with full functionality inside Intensive Care Units (ICU) at the Perth Children's Hospital and Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital.
EMRs have been shown in other jurisdictions to reduce preventable patient deaths, increase staff productivity and retention, improve patient flow through the emergency department and reduce unplanned readmissions.
The first stage will also include preparation for the full rollout of an EMR. The State Government has pledged that Perth Children's Hospital will be the first to receive a full EMR in line with recommendations made as part of the Coronial Inquest into the death of Aishwarya Aswath.
The new funding in this year's Budget comes in addition to the $51.7 million funded in previous State Budgets to begin the rollout of EMRs.
In partnership with the Commonwealth, the State Government is putting $75 million towards the construction of a new $150 million Surgicentre at Bentley Health Service. This will enable a streamlined and focused separation of elective and emergency surgery to reduce wait times for patients.
Other major health infrastructure projects funded in the 2023-24 State Budget include:
- $81.1 million in 2026-27 to expand public services at St John of God Midland Public Hospital through the purchase of 60 beds and three operating rooms;
- $75 million for the jointly-funded $150 million Bentley Health Service Surgicentre;
- $55.2 million for medical equipment upgrades and minor building works;
- $12.9 million for a new CT scanner for Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital (SCGH);
- Additional $12.7 million - $267.3 million in total - for the Joondalup Health Campus redevelopment;
- Additional $4.2 million for the refurbishment of ward C14 at SCGH;
- Additional $1.5 million for the SCGH Cyclotron project;
- Additional $6.5 million for the Peel Health Campus transformation, which will return privatised services back to the State;
- $2.1 million for the Albany Health Campus car park; and
- $8.2 million to upgrade WA Country Health Service staff accommodation.
This is in addition to the Government's $218.9 million investment in stage one of the Graylands Reconfiguration and Forensic Taskforce project, which will provide 53 new forensic mental health beds, including a five-bed Child and Adolescent Unit.
As stated by Premier Mark McGowan:
"Positioning WA's public health system for the future is a key priority for my Government, as is evidenced by our record spending on vital infrastructure projects. We have a strong track record of investing in WA public hospitals and setting up quality healthcare facilities for future generations.
"In the 2023-24 Budget we are investing in projects that will make a meaningful difference for patients such as the $150 million Surgicentre at Bentley Health Campus, which will separate elective and emergency surgery to reduce wait times.
"We are also funding upgraded digital systems to future-proof our hospitals, with Stage 1 of the Electronic Medical Record program set to enable healthcare workers to better prioritise our most vulnerable ICU patients at Perth Children's Hospital and Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital."
As stated by Health Minister Amber-Jade Sanderson:
"The McGowan Government is committed to protecting the health and wellbeing of our community through major investments in our fantastic public hospitals.
"An Electronic Medical Record will provide healthcare workers with faster and more reliable patient information, reducing their paperwork burden and helping improve patient flow.
"Through the 2023-24 State Budget, we are also investing in additional hospital beds, equipment, staff accommodation and carparking to help continue the support for our health system and deliver world-class patient care."
