The McGowan Labor Government will invest an additional $223.4 million into health infrastructure projects in the upcoming 2022-23 State Budget, delivering a boost to key services across the State.
Since the 2021-22 State Budget in September, an additional 342 beds have been added to the hospital system, with the majority of the remaining beds to be open by the end of the year to provide a total of 530 beds committed by the Government.
The 2022-23 Budget includes an additional $223.4 million investment in health infrastructure, increasing investment in health infrastructure to $1.6 billion over the next four years. This is on top of the $1.8 billion set aside to construct the new women and babies hospital.
The new investment in infrastructure projects in this Budget includes:
- $44 million to increase the Medical Equipment and Imaging Replacement Program;
- $38.1 million will go to implementing Stage 1 of digital medical record keeping across the hospital system to modernise and enhance service delivery, including an initial roll out at five hospitals;
- $16.7 million to build a 10-bed pod to upgrade the intensive care unit (ICU) at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital;
- $7.6 million for refurbishment works within the Neurological Intervention and Imaging Service of Western Australia unit at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital to house two new biplanar units; and
- $5.9 million to commence site development and forward works for the Byford Health Hub.
Regional WA communities will benefit from infrastructure investment towards a range of initiatives including:
- $13 million to build and operate a new Albany General Dental Clinic;
- $5 million in additional funding to address the most urgent and critical staff accommodation issues;
- an additional $2.3 million for the Broome Step Up/Step Down (SUSD) facility and an additional $1.6 million for the Karratha SUSD to address construction cost pressures; and
- $920,000 for the planning and design of a new renal dialysis centre in Halls Creek.
The upcoming State Budget will also allocate funding to plan new significant health infrastructure investments including:
- $10 million to develop business cases for the State-wide reconfiguration of mental health services and Graylands Hospital redevelopment;
- $2.5 million towards the development of a business case to inform options for the proposed WA Comprehensive Cancer Centre; and
- $900,000 in 2022-23 for the planning and design phase of the Renal Dialysis Unit, Renal Hostel and staff accommodation in Halls Creek.
As stated by Premier Mark McGowan:
“Investments in health infrastructure, including upgrades to the ICU at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, form a significant part of the upcoming Budget.
“The wide-ranging initiatives and major investments highlight how big Western Australia’s footprint is and reflects the far-reaching health care and services delivered to Western Australians each and every day.
“The WA Government will invest $1.6 billion in health infrastructure over the next four years to ensure our system continues to meet the needs of Western Australians into the future.”
As stated by Health Minister Amber-Jade Sanderson:
“Through the 2022-23 State Budget, the McGowan Government will invest an additional $223.4 million to deliver a range of key health infrastructure projects.
“This funding boost will ensure our world-class hospital system continues to provide top quality care for Western Australians where it is needed most.
“Thank you to all our dedicated healthcare workers who provide first-class patient care every single day. These projects complement your hard work.”
