Health operations centre to open in old Telstra tower

A new co-ordinated emergency and medical care operations centre will be established in the old Telstra Exchange tower, to be operational by the end of the year.

This masthead can reveal the state government’s $47 million State Health Operations Centre will be set up across two floors in the building at 625 Wellington Street.

Once fully operational, tipped for later this year, the centre will share the building with WA Police’s State Operations Command Centre which relocated in 2023, among other tenants. 

The State Health Operations Centre is expected to co-locate relevant St John WA, Royal Flying Doctor Service, and WA Virtual Emergency Department staff in one location.

The move is expected to allow for system wide coordination of patient movements across the organisations and government.

It will also house the WA Virtual Emergency Department, which will transition into an expanded service following its trial at aged care facilities. 

The early-stage initiative aims to reduce unnecessary emergency department visits by offering patients virtual consultations and treatment with referrals to supporting services as required. 

Health Minister Amber-Jade Sanderson said the SHOC would build an integrated state-wide service delivery for essential emergency and medical services.

“From as far north as Kununurra, as far south as Albany and everything in between, the State Health Operations Centre will ensure the best health service is delivered to people in all areas of our state,” she said.

“The establishment of the State Health Operations Centre is a significant milestone in our plan to bolster access to crucial emergency and healthcare services in WA.

“The WA Virtual Emergency Department, which will be housed in the SHOC, is also a brilliant initiative and a safe option that will provide better patient outcomes for the WA community.”

The state government recently released a tender for refurbishment and fit-out of two floors in the Telstra Exchange Building for the State Health Operations Centre.

The floors will include new offices, open plan operations areas, meeting rooms, staff breakout, communications and ancillary areas, according to the tender.