The Health Services Union welcomes today’s announcement by the State Government of a major reinvestment in public hospitals, including:
- The acquisition of St John of God Hospital Mount Lawley to bring it into public hands;
- a new multistorey block for Royal Perth Hospital to expand facilities, including a new expanded emergency department, and
- the construction of a new hospital at Peel Health Campus next to the existing hospital.
This commitment to deliver more capacity to our public health system, to respond to the needs of Western Australians, is a positive step forward. In the short term, the acquisition of St John of God Hospital Mount Lawley makes good sense and will deliver up to 100 beds to the public system before next winter.
The Mount Lawley Hospital acquisition starts to deliver on the key pillars of the four major health unions’ Five Point Plan to Tackle Ramping.
HSUWA will focus on the workforce elements that follow this announcement, especially a smooth transition for the staff of St John of God Hospital Mount Lawley.
The HSUWA looks forward to working with the State Government on further positive steps to support our public health workforce, particularly for Allied Health, who are key to sustainable healthcare. Investment in the Allied Health workforce, alongside investment in hospital infrastructure, is vital to ensuring efficient patient flow through our hospital system, minimising bed block and wait lists, as well as keeping people out of hospital.
