Peel Health Campus plan revealed: Emergency department upgrade to be complete in August 2020

Infrastructure at the Mandurah hospital has been a hot topic over the last 18 months, with the Mandurah Mail leading a campaign calling for expenditure at the medical centre.

The state government has pledged $9.4 million to PHC since being elected in 2017, with $4.4 million to go towards car park upgrades and $5 million to reconfigure the emergency department.

The latter will involve a new fast-track area to improve patient triage, new holding bays, a reconfiguration of the existing triage area and a redesign of the waiting room.

There will also be the addition of seven short-stay beds to streamline patient flow.

The work on the emergency department is scheduled to start in February 2020 and be completed in August 2020.

The car park expansion, adding 225 new bays, is set to get underway later this month and be completed by November. The local branch of the Industrial Roadpavers were awarded the tender.

Premier Mark McGowan said the upgrades responded to the needs of the growing local community, and will create additional work for the civil and building construction industries, which will help boost the local economy.

"Our significant expansion and refurbishment projects at our hospitals across WA help improve patient flow and care, ensure our hospitals continue to meet patient needs and create jobs through construction and works," he said.

"Works on the Peel Health Campus emergency department upgrades will commence in February 2020 and the emergency department will remain open throughout construction, this has been a big consideration in the redesign."

Health minister Roger Cook said it had taken "an enormous amount of consultation and work to get to this point."

"The refurbishment of the emergency department will optimise the use of the Peel Health Campus and sustain the provision of high quality patient care," he said.

"It will help our health staff who already do a wonderful job better provide care and attention our patients need.

"I look forward to progressing other significant developments at Peel Health Campus when the federal government makes available $25 million promised during the general election campaign."

Mandurah MP David Templeman said he was pleased with the project's progress.

"Improving services and ensuring people have access to essential and reliable emergency care close to home is something I have been committed to secure for people living in this region," he said.

"A multimillion dollar investment into health infrastructure at this hospital has been long awaited, with the last significant investment being made in 2008 by the Carpenter Labor Government. It represents the McGowan government's commitment to the people in the Peel region."

Murray-Wellington MP Robyn Clarke said the upgrades were "vital".

"This project is vital in ensuring Peel Health Campus continues to deliver hospital emergency services to this growing region and is able to respond to the needs of our growing local community," she said.

"The plans are coming together and I welcome this development and the significant investment which is testament to the McGowan government's commitment to provide quality healthcare, no matter where people live."