WA news LIVE: Government and opposition announce flagship health policies ahead of election

Royal Perth Hospital will get an innovative emergency department as part of a key $104 million Cook Labor election promise to modernise the hospital.

Premier Roger Cook and Health Minister Amber-Jade Sanderson announced the policy yesterday, saying $97.3 million would go to the ED redevelopment and a further $7 million to create a blueprint for a broader redevelopment of the wider hospital.

The project is part of Labor’s plan to fix ambulance ramping, improve wait times for patients and conditions for hospital staff in the state.

“This project will revolutionise emergency care in RPH,” Cook said.

“It includes more than 50 new treatment bays, a new CT scanner space, eight extra ambulance triage bays, more triage rooms and specialised mental health early treatment zone.

“We’ll do it by expanding the footprint of the current ED with a new building to the north of the existing Q block here at RPH.”

On Sunday, the WA Liberals made an election promise of $73.2 million to expand St John WA’s urgent-care clinic model with three new fully equipped clinics.

An additional pledge of $18 million to purchase 60,000 episodes of care (periods of time patients spend in hospital) at urgent-care clinics would reduce pressure on hospital emergency departments, party leader and opposition health spokeswoman Libby Mettam said.

“St John’s urgent care clinics are specifically designed and equipped to provide immediate
treatment for injuries and illnesses such as fractures, sprains, and minor infections and other
lower-acuity cases that do not require the resources of a full emergency department,” she said.

“As well as being a win for hospitals and patients, this initiative is also a win for our
ambulance service.”