WA government unveils $1.2bn hospital spend

The state government has revealed a record $1.2 billion commitment to public hospital infrastructure projects ahead of next week’s state budget - but not all are praising the spend.

Premier Mark McGowan and Health Minister Amber-Jade Sanderson announced the investment today, with the premier labelling it a commitment to quality healthcare for future generations. But the WA Liberals were quick to rebut the headline figure, labelling it a "disingenous budget trick".

The spend detailed by the government was led by a frontline investment of almost $100 million designated to the first stage of an electronic medical record (EMR) to be rolled out across state hospitals.

Fully functional EMRs will be installed in the intensive care units at Perth Children's Hospital and Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital. All other public hospitals in the state will receive digital medical records with single sign-on and virtual desktop technology.

Following on from $51.7 million of prior investment in planning, the government said the initiative would allow real-time sharing of patient information and analytics to support clinical decision making, patient flow and virtual care.

The Perth Children's Hospital will be the first to receive a full EMR in line with recommendations from the coronial inquest into the 2021 death of Aishwarya Aswath. The subsequent order and timing of the EMR rollout is to be determined.

“An electronic medical record will provide healthcare workers with faster and more reliable patient information, reducing their paperwork burden and helping improve patient flow,” Ms Sanderson said.

The state will also meet its commitment to match $75 million worth of investment by the federal government in a Surgicentre at the Bentley Health Service, which will separate non-complex elective surgery from emergency surgery and reduce wait times.

A further $81.1 million will be used to expand public services at of St John of God Midland, with a number of smaller investment commitments also unveiled.

“Through the 2023-24 state budget, we are also investing in additional hospital beds, equipment, staff accommodation and carparking to help continue the support for our health system and deliver world-class patient care,” Ms Sanderson said.

A $218.9 million upgrade to Graylands Hospital was announced last week as part of a state government mental health investment package.

Referring to Graylands, the WA Liberal Party labelled today's announcement a "hodge podge of half-funded and already announced projects and normal asset replacement" presented as "a shiny new toy". 

Liberal leader and Shadow Health Minister Libby Mettam said the headline figure factored in numbers previously announced by the government - including that at Graylands, $129 million added in the state's mid-year review and $473 million previously forward allocated to health capital works. 

"Subtract that $800 million from today's $1.2 billion announcement and you're left with $400 million over four years; which falls well short of what is needed to relieve the pressure points in our health system," she said. 

Ms Mettam said a commitment to buy an additional 60 beds and three operating rooms at St John of God Midland was too little too late for a health system under considerable stress. 

"Expansion in bed capacity is desperately needed, but this is catch up mode for a system that has seven of the eight worst performing emergency departments in the country and went into the Covid pandemic with fewer beds per head of population than any other state," she said. 

The full 2023-24 state budget will be released next Thursday, May 11.