The Gallop government has allocated an additional $890 million to cover extra capital works spending in the health system, taking the total capital works budget for health to $3.6 billion over 10 years.
The cost of the 610-bed Fiona Stanley Hospital, to be built in Perth’s southern suburbs, has increased from $420 million to $742 million.
Health minister Jim McGinty said this reflected “significant upgrades” to the original plan and unspecified building escalation costs.
The cost of redeveloping Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital has increased from $345 million to $546 million.
Other big capital works projects include the $222 million relocation of Princess Margaret Hospital to the current site of Royal Perth Hospital, which will transfer services to Fiona Stanley Hospital in 2011.
The government also plans a $183 million redevelopment of the existing Swan Districts Hospital or construction of a new hospital nearby in Midland.
The government had previously committed $2.7 billion to upgrade the health system, which included $1.7 billion to implement the recommendation of the Reid report.
