The McGowan Labor Government’s latest health budget will deliver high-quality patient care across the State, with a significant investment in hospital infrastructure and better, more innovative services.
As demands on health services continue to increase, the budget will enable continued investment in the system, with an additional $316.4 million to 2022-23 for our core hospital and non-hospital services.
Research will receive a boost, with $52 million provisionally allocated over a three-year period to a Future Health Research and Innovation Fund to improve research opportunities in Western Australia.
The fund will enable Western Australia to retain its best and brightest health researchers and innovators, and attract leading researchers from around the world. The fund will start up gradually and progress to a greater annual budget in future years.
The Budget also includes $22.7 million of new funding to refurbish the 24-bed Intensive Care Unit at Royal Perth Hospital. The refurbishments will include bigger patient areas and increased natural lighting; improvements to the waiting areas used by distressed relatives and friends of patients; and the implementation of a modern ICT system to aid workflow and productivity.
A further $41 million will be allocated towards an end-of-life choices and palliative care package across the State, including an extra $5 million which will go towards a purpose-built 38-bed residential aged and palliative care facility in Carnarvon.
The 2019-20 State Budget also includes:
- $161 million to redevelop Joondalup Health Campus;
- $26.4 million towards implementation of the Sustainable Health Review and initial projects, with $3.3 million allocated to the crucial first steps in planning the co-location of King Edward Memorial Hospital to the QEII site in Nedlands;
- $6.3 million to fund a Magnetic Resonance Imaging suite at Kalgoorlie Health Campus;
- $15.6 million for a 20-bed, secure mental health unit at Fremantle Hospital;
- $11 million for planning for the redevelopment of Bunbury Hospital;
- $13.1 million for the construction of a facility at Albany Health Campus to house a linear accelerator;
- $7.3 million for upgrades to Bentley Hospital;
- $13.8 million for specialist services as part of the Pilbara Health Initiative, to enable patients to be treated closer to home;
- $1.6 million to create culturally appropriate accommodation for Aboriginal patients and their carers while visiting metropolitan hospitals;
- $1.3 million for the construction of a renal unit at the Newman Health Service, which will house four renal dialysis chairs and supporting infrastructure; and
- An additional $1 million for the Kimberley Mobile Dialysis Unit.
For more 2019-20 State Budget information, visit https://www.ourstatebudget.wa.gov.au
As stated by Health Minister Roger Cook:
“The McGowan Government is committed to ensuring Western Australia’s public health services remain among the world’s best.
“We have to be accountable in how money is spent across the health system, and ensure that the balance between hospital and non-hospital services is right.
“At the same time, we are investing in new health infrastructure and services to ensure that Western Australians receive the best possible health care, no matter where they live.
“This is a responsible Budget, which manages increasing demands on our health system within a sustainable budget setting.”
