Perth Children’s Hospital celebrates its first birthday

  • ​Today marks the one-year anniversary of the official opening of Perth Children’s Hospital
  • One year ago today, 91 patients moved from Princess Margaret Hospital (PMH) to Perth Children’s Hospital (PCH) with PMH officially closing its doors
  • The one-year celebrations come after a busy 12 months of PCH looking after some of WA’s sickest kids
  • It is officially Perth Children’s Hospital’s first birthday, with the facility marking its one-year anniversary since opening.

    Premier Mark McGowan and Health Minister Roger Cook joined PCH patients, staff and volunteers to celebrate this important milestone.

    Over the past year, PCH has seen a broad increase in the provision of services for the most unwell children across Western Australia:

    • More than 29,000 inpatient admissions – an increase of more than nine per cent over the final 12 months at PMH;
    • Almost 67,000 emergency department presentations – an increase of more than eight per cent over the final 12 months at PMH;
    • The busiest day in the emergency department saw 297 presentations in 24 hours – an increase of more than a quarter over the busiest day at PMH ED in the final 12 months at PMH;
    • An increase of more than 43 per cent in the number of magnetic resonance imaging scans (MRIs), with more than 4,600 MRIs performed at PCH; and
    • More than 140,000 patient meals served (includes breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks and special meals).

    As stated by Premier Mark McGowan:

    “For the past year, Western Australian children have received the highest quality health care at Perth Children’s Hospital, one of the most impressive facilities in the country.

    “Thank you to all the staff at PCH for all the hard work you have done looking after some of the State’s sickest children.

    “I’m pleased my Government was able to open this hospital last year and ensure Western Australian children have access to the best quality health care available.”

    As stated by Health Minister Roger Cook:

    “PCH has had an amazing first year providing treatment to children from across Western Australia.

    “It has only been possible through the hard work, commitment and passion of each and every staff member working at PCH.

    “We celebrate today all staff; the cleaners, support staff and wards clerks as well as the doctors, nurses, allied health staff and the PCH volunteers. All who have worked as a team to support children when they are unwell, at their most vulnerable time.”

    /Public Release. View in full here.