Murray District Hospital's role in providing respite for Peel Health Campus is in the spotlight, with more than double the patients being transferred to the Pinjarra facility from Rockingham than from Mandurah.
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The State Government website states the 15-bed hospital on Mackay Street, “offers inpatient medical services and palliative care to the people of Pinjarra and surrounding areas”.
South Metropolitan Health Service statistics show 129 patients from Rockingham were transferred to Murray in 2017/18, compared to 51 from Peel.
Rockingham sent 108 transfers to Murray in 16/17 and 66 in 15/16, whereas only 46 were transferred from Peel to Murray in 16/17 and 32 in 15/16.
A South Metropolitan Health Service spokeswoman said Murray offered inpatient medical services to “people within the Rockingham Peel region”.
The spokeswoman said accepted patients were:
- Awaiting a place in a nursing home or package of care.
- Awaiting a State Administrative Tribunal hearing in order to progress with discharge planning.
- Require end of life care.
- Unable to be managed at home for a period of time due to a non-weight bearing fracture.
The Mandurah Mail started a campaign in March calling for money to be invested in Peel Health Campus, highlighting emergency department pressures, including some of the worst wait-times in the state.
In a proactive approach to free up beds at Rockingham General Hospital and Peel Health Campus, an enhanced social work service has been implemented at Murray District Hospital.
- A South Metropolitan Health Service spokeswoman
The spokeswoman said a service at Murray was introduced to free-up beds at both Peel and Rockingham.
“In a proactive approach to free up beds at Rockingham and Peel, an enhanced social work service has been implemented at Murray,” she said.
“This has resulted in a reduction in the average patient length of stay, which has allowed Murray to cater for an increased number of patients.”
The spokeswoman said in recent years, Murray transitioned from the governance of general practitioners to geriatric medicine, as a result of a remodel in care.
It is 20 minutes down the road from Mandurah, so there are potentially some opportunities for it to play more of a role – but I’ll leave that up to the experts.
- Health Minister Roger Cook
“This change has improved access to medical and allied health staff and streamlined management and discharge plans for patients,” she said.
In July, Health Minister Minister Roger Cook told the Mandurah Mail he believed Murray could play a part in relieving pressure at Peel.
“I’d like to see what role the Murray District Hospital can play,” he said.
“It is a great set of buildings – it is not a modern hospital but it does have good facilities there.
“It is 20 minutes down the road from Mandurah, so there are potentially some opportunities for it to play more of a role – but I’ll leave that up to the experts.”
The government’s Sustainable Health Review report is expected to be delivered next month, which will highlight health priorities for the wider Peel region.
Carla Hildebrandt
Journalist at the Mandurah Mail
Journalist at the Mandurah Mail
