Health and hospital infrastructure
200. Ms Emily Hamilton to the Minister for Health Infrastructure:
I refer to the Cook Labor government's commitment to delivering health and hospital infrastructure projects across the state. Can the minister outline to the house how this government's record investment in our hospitals, including Joondalup Health Campus, is delivering for Western Australians?
Mr John Carey replied:
I thank the member for her question and her advocacy for the Joondalup Hospital redevelopment. As we know, our state government has an ambitious health infrastructure program, which includes $3.2 billion in capital investment over the next four years. We are making significant upgrades right around the state. The Bunbury Hospital redevelopment will be the largest regional redevelopment of a hospital in our state's history, at a cost of $471 million. We have the Geraldton Health Campus redevelopment, which is a $188 million redevelopment and addition. I note it is only Labor governments that invest in and deliver on that health campus in Geraldton.
Today we announced a further $24 million to add 60 beds to the Joondalup Health Campus. That is on top of a $283 million investment that has already seen a mental health unit, new emergency beds and a refurbished patient discharge lounge. This investment of $24 million will ensure that we add further capacity in the system. Of course, it is the story of the Cook Labor government. Since 2021 we have added around 800 hospital beds. That is the equivalent of a new tertiary hospital. This demonstrates that we are seizing every opportunity we can to boost capacity, boost bed numbers, and help the patient flow in the hospital system. I am proud of that announcement today and we will continue to make significant investments in our hospital system.
