City of Mandurah councillors have said enough's enough over the state of the Peel Health Campus and are forging a plan to propel the state government into action.
At a council meeting on Tuesday, Mandurah mayor Rhys Williams moved a motion for representatives to advise WA Health Minister Roger Cook of their concerns for the future of Mandurah’s hospital.
Mr Williams expressed concerns about the long-term plan for the 193-bed public and private hospital, stating the health precinct needed a stronger future plan.
The motion was carried unanimously, and will see council articulate their grievances over the current level of planning for the future needs of the Mandurah and Peel Region to the minister.
The motion particularly focused on the five year operating lease of the Peel Health Campus.
Mr Williams said the “short-term” lease meant providers were unlikely to inject extra funding into the campus due to a chance their lease wouldn’t be renewed.
Which he believed left the hospital “stagnant”.
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Since stepping into office last October, Mr Williams has visited various health services in the city, particularly retirement villages.
He said those visits had alerted him to the urgency of ensuring City of Mandurah residents had adequate health facilities.
Council’s crackdown was announced simultaneously to the release of an interim report of the state government’s Sustainable Health Review.
Mr Williams said the review, that council made a submission to, was the reason for the motion.
Their submission spoke in detail of the current stresses that existed in Mandurah, with the most “glaring” being the state of the Peel Health Campus.
“Many of these could be resolved if there was a longer term of strategy for the campus,” Mr Williams said.
“The state government needs to address this issue.
“For us, this is not about politics. We don’t care who’s in government. We want to see action.”
The review’s interim report described the Peel region’s health care, along with other areas, as a pressure point “requiring attention”.
“The WA health system needs to better understand current needs, future requirements and gaps in existing facilities such as long term maintenance, underpinned by robust cost benefit analysis and support innovations in the delivery of services,” the report stated.
“This could also include options to look at repurposing existing facilities, using current unused capacity at existing facilities or collaborating with other providers to deliver specific services.”
The report aims to guide cabinet, through the minister, to a strategic direction of the WA health system that delivers patient centred, integrated, high quality, and financially sustainable care.
Councillors have scheduled a meeting with Mr Cook on Thursday, in Mandurah.
The full report will be released in November 2018.
