Premier opens Perth’s new flagship hospital
$2billion Fiona Stanley Hospital opening heralds new era in health care
First patients welcomed to State Rehabilitation Service
Patients admitted in a four-phase sequence, with the emergency department expected to open in February 2015
A new era in health care will begin tomorrow with the arrival of the first patients at Fiona Stanley Hospital.
Officially opening Western Australia’s newest health care facility today, Premier Colin Barnett said the $2billion Fiona Stanley Hospital was the first new-build tertiary hospital project in the State for more than 50 years.
“Fiona Stanley Hospital is a revolutionary facility that provides patient comfort and care innovation, architectural design and health service delivery never before seen in WA,” Mr Barnett said.
“It’s the most complex hospital of its kind to be commissioned in WA and when fully operational, will have 783 beds, the biggest health facility in the State.
“After years of planning by successive governments, this State Government began building the hospital here in Murdoch in September 2009 and I am delighted to now see it open.”
Health Minister Kim Hames said patient admission would occur in four phases to enable the testing of all clinical and non-clinical systems at the hospital, ensuring safety and efficiency at every stage.
“Phase one of Fiona Stanley Hospital includes the four-storey, 140-bed State Rehabilitation Service and associated support services such as pathology, pharmacy, imaging and a range of non-clinical services in the main hospital,” Dr Hames said.
“Tomorrow, around 120 patients will move from the Shenton Park Campus to the new rehabilitation facilities here at Fiona Stanley Hospital in a massive logistics exercise.”
Phase 2, which starts in November, will see clinical services begin within the main hospital and the introduction of selected general surgical, orthopaedic, anaesthetic and obstetric services.
The emergency department is expected to open in February 2015 during Phase 3.
Fiona Stanley Hospital is one of three new major public hospitals set to open in the metropolitan area by the end of next year, and is the centrepiece of the State Government’s $7billion hospital building and refurbishment program, delivering more than 80 health infrastructure projects throughout WA.
Source: News Release, Premier Colin Barnett, 03 October 2014