A new $200 million development, incorporating a medihotel, will deliver a better experience for recuperating patients and free up hospital beds so more patients can be treated.
The 80-bed Medihotel Murdoch will be part of the first stage of the Murdoch Health and Knowledge Precinct development and is due for completion in early 2023.
Part of the WA Recovery Plan enables the McGowan Government to invest $55.5 million over four years towards the operational costs of the 80 beds.
WA Health has partnered with Hesperia and Aegis Aged Care Group to deliver the project.
The medihotel, which will be operated by Aegis Aged Care, will deliver up to 80 beds, operate 24 hours, seven days per week, and is expected to divert up to 4,500 patients each year from busy public hospitals.
The facility will provide medical and nursing support for patients who have been discharged from hospital but are not yet ready to return home.
Comprehensive primary health care services will also be located on site including an Urgent Care Clinic with minor trauma rooms and general practitioner services, such as pharmacy, imaging and pathology.
The development, adjacent to two of Western Australia’s biggest hospitals – Fiona Stanley Hospital and St John of God Murdoch, will also offer prevention and chronic disease management, rehabilitation and life skills training to divert people from hospital, decrease hospital admissions and help prevent patient readmissions.
This will be of particular advantage to country patients as it will help prevent their readmission to rural and regional hospitals after an acute episode of care in Perth.
Other facilities planned for the precinct include a Transitional Recovery Unit for mental health patients requiring long-term rehabilitation and end of life care for patients who do not need specialist high level hospice care.
Construction on the Murdoch development is expected to start later this year with practical completion anticipated in early 2023.
As stated by Health Minister Roger Cook:
“This is a commitment the McGowan Government took to the last State election to put patients first, through medihotels, and this initiative delivers on that pledge.
“This model of care and the collaboration between key health providers including Fiona Stanley Hospital clinicians, GPs, allied health, aged care, mental health and other medical professionals has been developed by leading health experts and puts WA in a unique space.
“I expect this medihotel, and this broader health precinct, will help set a new benchmark for the way sub-acute care is delivered in this country, by providing a greater range of services to match individual patient needs.”
As stated by Jandakot MLA Yaz Mubarakai:
“This medihotel is great news and a much needed outcome for our health system, especially for patients who are discharged from hospital but are still recovering in close proximity to the hospital, ensuring hospital beds are available for those in more serious or critical conditions that require immediate access for their treatments.
“I thank Minister Cook and the McGowan Government for putting patients first and creating a world-class medical precinct for families south of the river, and on behalf of the Jandakot community, welcome the news of this 80-bed medihotel.”
As stated by Bicton MLA Lisa O’Malley:
“The McGowan Government is delivering on its commitment to put patients first and introduce medihotels to Western Australia.
“For people not yet ready to return home after their hospital stay, this will help provide peace of mind for the individuals and their families – it’s especially important that locals in Bicton have options as they recover.”
