Peel Health Campus to receive major funding boost

Peel Health Campus will be awarded $5 million to completely redesign its emergency department, in addition to new beds and further upgrades.

Residents in Mandurah, and across the Peel region, are set to benefit from a major upgrade to their local hospital’s emergency department.

A $5 million funding package was today announced by the McGowan Government to upgrade the Peel Health Campus emergency department to improve patient flow, provide greater privacy and create a more pleasant and healing environment in which to work and be treated.   

The major upgrade will include anew fast-track patient triage zone, a redesigned waiting room, new holding bays and an upgrade to the existing triage area.

The addition of eight beds to the short stay unit was also announced on Wednesday morning in hopes to streamline patient flow from the emergency department.

Health Minister Roger Cook said the upgrades will ensure Peel Health Campus remained in a strong position to deliver hospital emergency services to the Peel region.

“This major upgrade to the emergency department at Peel Health Campus will ensure the provision of high-quality care in a pleasant, healing and clinically appropriate environment," he said.

“The Peel region suffered almost a decade of neglect under the previous Liberal National Government, during their time in office nothing was done to address the healthcare needs of the region and keep track of a rapidly growing population.

"The last investment in the area was $3 million in 2008, made by the Carpenter Labor Government. 

“The McGowan Government is proud to be making this $5 million commitment to the Peel region. It adds to $4.4 million already committed to Peel Health Campus as part of the 2018-19 Budget handed down in May.” 

The South Metropolitan Health Service will commence drafting the concept plans for the new look emergency department this year, with construction expected to commence in early 2020.

This funding is in addition to the recent $4.4 million investment over four years announced by the McGowan Government in the May Budget, to expand the car park, increase security and overhaul the nurse call system.

Murray-Wellington MLA Robyn Clarke said the redevelopment would put patients first.

“As part of the redevelopment there will be a suite of new holding bays that will offer increased privacy for patients who have been assessed and are being admitted, there will also be a new area where senior medical staff will be able to review patients," she said.

“The upgrades to Peel Health Campus are recognition of the importance that the McGowan Government places on this rapidly growing region and its commitment to putting patients first.”

The Peel region was highlighted as a ‘pressure point’ in the Interim Report of the Sustainable Health Review.

Today’s announcement comes on the same day as the SHR hosted a roundtable meeting in Mandurah, attended by the Minister for Health, to discuss the future health needs of the Peel region.