AUSTRALIA’S largest private hospital is expanding its services.
St John of God Healthcare Subiaco CEO Neale Fong said the hospital now had an after hours general practitioner’s surgery on site which can see more acute patients out of normal GP hours.
The hospital will also soon launch a cardiac triage service.
“If a private patient thinks he is having a heart attack he can come in and have a check,” Dr Fong said. “We will also be opening a pediatric unit for the children of private patients.”
The hospital also has a sports injury clinic and that practice is growing.
“We are well situated here,” Dr Fong said. “We are central to the western and northern suburbs which are our market really.”
Although the hospital is an acute tertiary care facility – capable of doing most major operations – there are no plans to open a casualty service.
The close proximity of St Charles Gairdner, Royal Perth and Princess Margaret hospitals makes such a move uneconomic.
Dr Fong said the private health care market was becoming very competitive. The Mount Hospital has recently expanded its services and Hollywood Hospital is growing in stature.
“St John’s has a strong history,” Dr Fong said. “We are known for quality care. A hospital stands or falls on the quality of staff it can attract. St John’s has most of the senior doctors in Perth working here.”
