The Australian Medical Association (AMA) president has taken a swipe at the state government saying the Peel Health Campus (PHC) was well overdue for a “significant expansion”.
AMA president doctor Omar Khorshid said the hospital required investment a long-term plan.
“Peel Health Campus has not had any significant expansion since it opened 20 years ago, despite the population of the region trebling in that time,” he said.
“The Peel and Rockingham regions have been identified as a major growth corridor for some time, but we are not aware of any long-term plans for expansion or redevelopment of Peel Health Campus.”
Read More:
Dr Khorshid said it was “critical” for the state government to develop a plan which takes into account population growth and changes in demand for healthcare.
“...as well as one that supports the provision of high quality public and private hospital care in the region.
“It is also surprising that despite the current and former Health Ministers and the current Premier all being based in the region, that the level of investment in health infrastructure has been so low.”
Health Minister Roger Cook said the government had identified PHC as a pressure point in the interim Sustainable Health Review (SHR) report and was looking at ways to tackle the issue.
The roundtable will be the next essential step in assisting the panel to look at further priorities at the hospital, and the future health care needs of the Peel region.
- Premier Mark McGowan
“On September 19, I’m looking forward to hosting a roundtable in Peel to speak to interested parties about ways to improve health services in the region,” he said.
“I have also asked South Metro Health Service (SMHS) to conduct a review of the health care needs of those living in the Peel region and surrounding catchment to determine long-term service delivery requirements.
“In addition SMHS have been asked to consider a design solution to address the issue of capacity in the emergency department.”
Mr Cook said it was “unfortunate” the current government was working on a future plan for Peel which was “predicated by a decade of neglect”.
Premier Mark McGowan echoed Mr Cook saying the government delivered $4.4 million funding for car park and security upgrades, in response to the SHR interim report.
“In addition, the investment will support a proactive program to improve the hospital’s assets and facilities,” he said.
“The roundtable will be the next essential step in assisting the panel to look at further priorities at the hospital, and the future health care needs of the Peel region.”
The SHR report will be released in November 2018.
Follow Carla Hildebrandt on Twitter @hildebrandt_c.
Carla Hildebrandt
Journalist at the Mandurah Mail
Journalist at the Mandurah Mail
