Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital—Emergency department redevelopment
Brief ministerial statement
Mr John Carey (Perth—Minister for Health Infrastructure) (9:09 am): Third time lucky! I rise to inform the house that two major milestones have been achieved at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital as part of the Cook government's focus on expanding and strengthening acute healthcare services for Western Australians. Works are now underway on the emergency department expansion, which will support the increasing demand of people requiring emergency care in the northern suburbs. The ED redevelopment has been designed to meet changing community needs and accommodate increases in emergency presentations. Dedicated areas will be established in the ED, including a new urgent critical care toxicology unit, providing a separate area for alcohol and other drug-related presentations. Works on the ED redevelopment will include upgraded emergency department entrance, waiting area and triage area; as I mentioned, the new critical care toxicology unit; enhanced observation ward; enhanced ambulance triage facilities; fast-track area for ambulant, low-complexity patients; a dedicated "pitstop area"; and new external covered walkways and entry canopy, including a new main entry canopy.
In addition, Cooper & Oxley has been appointed as the builder to construct the 10-bed pod for the hospital's intensive care unit. Designed to provide the system with further capacity to support the demand for ICU beds, the pod will be physically separated from the main ICU, allowing it to be isolated and quarantined if required. Works will begin later this year on the project and will be undertaken in stages to minimise service disruption. These upgrades will include state-of-the-art technology to support patient care and provide our incredible ICU staff with more space, better resources and the increased support they need to continue to deliver lifesaving care. We have the strongest growing economy in the country and the fastest growing population, and that is why we are ensuring that our hospitals continue to grow.
