SMAHS reconfiguration to reach critical point this week

Tuesday 03 Feb 2015

Members at Fremantle, Royal Perth and Fiona Stanley Hospitals will face a very big challenge this week, perhaps the most significant in the South Metro Area Health Service (SMAHS)'s history.

FSH will advance to a tertiary hospital level of service provision. This phase is the largest and most complex phase in the transition as it involves the transfer of inpatients to the main hospital, and the opening of high acuity units such as the emergency department, intensive care unit, coronary care unit, operating theatres, state burns service and associated tertiary services.

Fremantle Hospital will close the doors on its emergency department for the last time at 7am Tuesday 3 February.  Fremantle Hospital has a long, proud history providing health services to the close-knit community. While that community will lose the ED and some of its other services next week, 'Freo' will still be home to mental health, aged care and rehabilitation, elective surgery, an ICU and other specialty services.

Significant change will also occur next week at RPH, with the move of a range of services, including state burns, cardiothoracic and medical oncology and the reconfiguration of a range of services that will partially relocate.

Change of this scale and complexity involves a massive commitment of time and expertise and our members have been both at the forefront of this change and impacted by it. They have worked tirelessly to ensure every detail is covered and every risk is managed even though many still face uncertain futures. They should be very proud of their efforts and contributions to this mammoth effort, and the union joins with all of their colleagues across the state in recognising what they have achieved.

Our organising team visited all three hospitals last week to offer support and advice and, where possible, resolve uncertainty. All three sites will continue to see a regular union presence in the coming weeks and months. Your union is also continuing its consultation effort for members without positions after the transition and in keeping management focused on secure employment as the transition effort subsides.

As always, if you do need help, advice or support from your union, please contact the union offices.