Premier confirms a South West hospital will get share of 120 new beds

A South West hospital has been tipped to get a share 120 new beds as part of a State Government push to bolster WA’s hospital system.

Premier Mark McGowan last Wednesday announced the Government would invest an additional $400 million in the health system, providing 270 new beds across the State.

He said the increased capacity would help WA be more prepared when border controls were further eased and COVID-19 entered the community.

“Expansions are now planned at Osborne Park and Rockingham hospitals, and two other hospitals, one of which will be in the South West,” Mr McGowan said.

“(It) will deliver 120 new beds to provide additional temporary capacity using modular construction, which will be rolled out in line with demand. The overall bed boost is the equivalent to bringing online a new hospital.”

An extra 150 new beds will be provided across a range of hospitals, including 74 general beds and 40 ICU beds, with 36 leased public beds in private hospitals. The Premier acknowledged new beds alone would not solve the issue.

“Beds without staff are not enough,” Mr McGowan said.

“It’s the people in our hospitals who make the real difference.”

Mr McGowan said the increased bed numbers would be complemented by the State Government’s $2m local, national and international recruitment drive to attract more healthcare staff.

He said the announcement would make WA better prepared for when COVID-19 entered the community.

“With increasing vaccinations amongst our community and these massive investments in health, we are making sure that when COVID-19 does arrive in WA, we can continue to keep Western Australians safe,” he said.