Peel and Rockingham hospitals to benefit from $100M funding injection

Peel Health Campus and Rockingham General Hospital's emergency departments are set to benefit from a $100 million cash injection as part of the upcoming 2021-22 State Budget.

The package is part of a $1.9 billion health investment to meet the unprecedented demand in the public health system.

It is designed to improve patient flow, reduce bed block, relieve ambulance congestion and better support the health workforce.

Health Minister Roger Cook made the announcement today while touring the virtual emergency medicine system at Fiona Stanley Hospital, which during the first month of the pilot, successfully reduced ambulance ramping by 25 per cent. 

The system uses technology to triage patients in ambulances and, where appropriate, divert them away from the emergency department to suitable inpatient services.

The $2.3 million boost will allow the system to expand to include Rockingham General Hospital and Peel Health Campus in order to improve ambulance and emergency department flow. 

“Over the past 12 to 18 months throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, our hospitals have been subject to an unprecedented increase in demand, which has put staff and resources under strain," Mr Cook said.

“This $100 million emergency department support package is part of the massive $1.9 billion investment, which will help alleviate pressure on the pointiest end of our health system.

“By combining a boost in staff, together with mental health initiatives and the latest virtual monitoring, we will be able to improve patient flow and better support our staff."

The $100 million package includes a $61.6 million mental health support component which will see the construction of two new mental health emergency centres at Rockingham and Armadale hospitals.

$7.9 million will also be spent on Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services to reduce waitlists and increase staff.

A new multidisciplinary team pilot (Active Recovery Team), based at Rockingham, Peel, Murdoch, Osborne Park, Midland, City East, Bentley, Armadale, Northam and Geraldton will also be funded.

These teams will provide tailored community-based treatment to target individuals who repeatedly present at emergency departments as they recover from an acute or crisis episode.

Mr Cook also announced a $4.8 million boost for the Perth Children’s Hospital emergency department, to employ an additional 16 nurses.