The State Government has committed $15 million to upgrade facilities, improve clinical services and recruit extra nurses at Princess Margaret Hospital.
The State Government has committed $15 million to upgrade facilities, improve clinical services and recruit extra nurses at Princess Margaret Hospital.
Health Minister Jim McGinty said a number of priority areas currently affecting services at the children's hospital had been identified and the government was committed to addressing them.
The funds are designed to ensure clinical services are maintained at the highest level before construction was complete on a new children's hospital.
"Late last year, concerns were raised that clinical services may be compromised before construction was completed on the new children's hospital," the Minister said.
"As a result, I established a committee chaired by Professor David Forbes to review the current gaps in clinical services and received that committee's report last month."
The 'Gaps in Clinical Service' report identifies existing and future clinical services which may require additional capital works and recurrent funding.
Mr McGinty said $2.1million had already been committed to the following five priority areas as identified by PMH clinicians:
- recruitment of additional emergency department nursing staff at a cost of $700,000 to cope with increasing demand.
- $1.28million to construct and run a new procedure room to free up operating theatre space and relieve pressure on waiting lists. The procedure room will be used for medical procedures such as endoscopies, Botox injections and minor surgery.
- provision of extra office space for clinicians by relocating administrative staff to other parts of the building. The $70,000 refit will enable doctors to provide input into other aspects of hospital function, particularly in administrative duties and supporting research.
- the allocation of additional administrative and nursing staff to the outpatient clinic at an annual cost of $250,000 will create and additional 20 outpatient clinic sessions per week.
- $1.46million to establish a new centre with additional staff for the Adolescent Eating Disorders Service to treat malnourished teenagers and reduce the need for hospitalisation.
Meanwhile mothers and their babies in the Swan Hills area will significantly benefit from the relocation of maternity services from Kalamunda Hospital to Swan District Hospital in Midland this month.
Health Minister Jim McGinty said nearly $2million had been invested to refurbish maternity facilities at Swan District.
THE FULL MEDIA RELEASES REGARDING PMH AND SWAN DISTRICTS HOSPITALS APPEAR BELOW.
PMH RELEASE.
Upgrades start at Princess Margaret Hospital.
Planning has begun at Princess Margaret Hospital to upgrade facilities, improve clinical services and recruit extra nurses.
Health Minister Jim McGinty said the State Government had set aside $15million for capital works at PMH to ensure clinical services were maintained at the highest level before construction was complete on the new children's hospital.
Mr McGinty said clinical staff had identified a number of priority areas currently affecting services at the children's hospital which the State Government was committed to addressing.
"Late last year, concerns were raised that clinical services may be compromised before construction was completed on the new children's hospital," the Minister said.
"As a result, I established a committee chaired by Professor David Forbes to review the current gaps in clinical services and received that committee's report last month."
The 'Gaps in Clinical Service' report identifies existing and future clinical services which may require additional capital works and recurrent funding.
Mr McGinty said $2.1million had already been committed to the following five priority areas as identified by PMH clinicians:
- recruitment of additional emergency department nursing staff at a cost of $700,000 to cope with increasing demand.
- $1.28million to construct and run a new procedure room to free up operating theatre space and relieve pressure on waiting lists. The procedure room will be used for medical procedures such as endoscopies, Botox injections and minor surgery.
- provision of extra office space for clinicians by relocating administrative staff to other parts of the building. The $70,000 refit will enable doctors to provide input into other aspects of hospital function, particularly in administrative duties and supporting research.
- the allocation of additional administrative and nursing staff to the outpatient clinic at an annual cost of $250,000 will create and additional 20 outpatient clinic sessions per week.
- $1.46million to establish a new centre with additional staff for the Adolescent Eating Disorders Service to treat malnourished teenagers and reduce the need for hospitalisation.
Mr McGinty said priority would also be given to developing business cases for other clinical services outlined in the Gaps report to form part of the PMH operational plan in 2006-07.
Those services to be given priority in the coming financial year include neurology, respiratory medicine, the cerebral palsy mobility service, the establishment of an obesity clinic, upgrades to psychiatric ward facilities and additional resources for the adolescent oncology unit.
Mr McGinty said the Women's and Children's Health Service Strategic Planning Committee, which includes PMH clinicians, will include the remaining recommended priorities in the Gaps report in the planning of future services and develop a rolling program for the ongoing implementation from 2007-08.
"The clinicians have also agreed to formally present their preference for the future location of Princess Margaret Hospital by July so we can lock away the final piece of the jigsaw for our health reform program," the Minister said.
"Although we had earlier flagged the possibility of a $222million redevelopment of the North Block at Royal Perth Hospital, I remain open to co-locating the new children's hospital at a tertiary site such as Sir Charles Gairdner or the Fiona Stanley Hospital."
THE SWAN DISTRICTS HOSPITAL RELEASE APPEARS BELOW.
Improved maternity care for Kalamunda women.
Mothers and their babies in the Swan Hills area will significantly benefit from the relocation of maternity services from Kalamunda Hospital to Swan District Hospital in Midland this month.
Health Minister Jim McGinty said nearly $2million had been invested to refurbish maternity facilities at Swan District.
"From this month, women in the Kalamunda area will have access to first-class maternity services at Swan District Hospital," Mr McGinty said.
"The upgrade will provide a safer and more comfortable environment for women and their babies in the hills area.
"Women will have access to five large birthing rooms, all with new or refurbished bathroom ensuites as well as a fully upgraded maternity ward," he said.
"Expectant mothers will also have access to a new antenatal clinic, which will offer two new consulting rooms with increased privacy, as well as antenatal and childbirth education and telephone advice."
"The upgraded facilities at Swan District will mean mothers and their babies will have the best possible care from highly qualified and supportive midwives and specialist obstetricians."
Mr McGinty said he was pleased that most of the midwives from Kalamunda Hospital had transferred to Swan District.
Women would also have access to 24-hour onsite consultant obstetricians, as well as the full services of a wider hospital complex such as 24-hour on site medical care, pharmacy, radiology and ultrasound and physiotherapy.
Mr McGinty said maternity services in the eastern metropolitan region would be further improved with the construction of the $182.7million, 326-bed general hospital on the site of the old railway workshops in Midland by 2011, to replace the old Swan District Hospital.
"Medical services at Swan including maternity services will continue to be maintained and upgraded until the new Midland hospital opens its doors so patient care will not be disrupted," he said.
