Midland public hospital complete

Construction of the $360 million St John of God Midland Public Hospital has been completed on time and on budget, with Brookfield Multiplex handing the keys to the state government and the hospital operator today.

Health Minister Kim Hames said the new 307-bed hospital would offer healthcare services to people in Perth’s north-eastern corridor and the Wheatbelt, increasing capacity by about 50 per cent when it opens in late November.

“(The hospital) will offer a comprehensive range of general hospital services free of charge to public patients,” Dr Hames said.

He said the new facility would replace the ageing Swan District Hospital, and would be the newest hospital in the area in 50 years.

“It includes a significantly expanded emergency department, advanced high-dependency and coronary units, improved cardiology services and a new cancer care facility,” Dr Hames said.

The hospital will also provide larger maternity, general surgery, mental health and rehabilitation facilities than currently available at Swan District, as well as improved aged care, renal and palliative care services.

St John of God health care executive director Perth northern hospitals, Lachlan Henderson, said commissioning work was now under way to prepare the facility and orientate more than 1,000 staff.

Brookfield Multiplex managing director Chris Palandri said handing over possession of the hospital signified the transition from a construction site into the early stages of a fully-functioning healthcare facility.

The hospital features 80 per cent single bedrooms, nine courtyards and includes the co-located $70 million, 60-bed St John of God Midland Private Hospital.

The public hospital is expected to treat about 29,000 inpatients, 60,000 emergency patients and 102,000 outpatients in its first full year of operation.

Construction began in 2012 and was equally co-funded by the state and federal governments.