Joondalup hospital $140m pledge dismissed as election campaign 'panic'
Updated
The WA Liberals have committed $140 million to fund the expansion of public health services at the Joondalup Health Campus, but the Opposition has branded it a "panicked" move as the unofficial campaign for the WA election gears up.
The campus is a public-private partnership with Ramsay Health servicing fast-growing northern suburbs.
Health Minister John Day said government funding would be used to expand public health services, including 90 more public beds, and up to 30 more mental health beds.
Mr Day said if the Barnett Government was re-elected on March 11, the hospital's emergency department would also be expanded.
"There's almost 100,000 visits to the emergency department each year," he said.
"It's one of the busiest emergency departments in Australia, and there is a need for further expansion [to] deal with the increased growth."
Population growth is expected to draw 50,000 people to the area, placing more pressure on health services.
Speaking at the Joondalup Health Campus, Mr Day said the planned expansion would help with that increased demand.
"That increase in bed numbers of 90 general public hospital beds, and about 25 to 30 mental health beds will deal with the needs for the next five years, but of course, it's not the end of the story," he said.
In the past year, a new children's ward has opened at the hospital, increasing the number of paediatric beds.
Work is about to begin on a new mental health observation area.
Mr Day said despite some political opposition, the public-private partnership at Joondalup had been effective and had delivered good results for the community.
Announcement 'hurried' in bid to counter Labor's seat blitz
WA Labor has dismissed the pledge as a panicked response by the Government to Labor leader Mark McGowan's whistle stop "seat blitz" tour across WA.
"The Liberal's announcement today around Joondalup hospital just shows what a panic they are in," Labor health spokesman Roger Cook said.
"This hurried announcement follows the Deputy Premier's comments last week that the actual campaign won't start until the beginning of February."
Mr Cook said WA Labor had long campaigned for an expansion of capacity at Joondalup Health Campus, and would be making announcements during the campaign.
"We've got a comprehensive plan of fresh, positive ideas ... we're looking forward to bringing to the WA community," he said.
Editor's note January 17, 2017: This story has been changed from $140 million for the expansion of the public children's ward at the hospital, to $140 million for general "public health services" at the hospital.
Topics: health, government-and-politics, joondalup-6027, wa
First posted
