NORTHAM Hospital will undergo a $46.1 million upgrade as part of a $325.8 million funding commitment for health infrastructure across southern Western Australia, funded by the state government's Royalties for Regions program.
Regional Development Minister Terry Redman visited Northam last Thursday to announce the funding carried out under the government's Southern Inland Health Init iative (SIHI).
Health Minister Kim Hames said the upgraded Northam Hospital would provide a comprehensive and greatly expanded emergency department to provide modern, well-equipped emergency services at Northam.
"The facility will also provide a single point of patient access to health services such as physiotherapy, speech therapy, occupational therapy, counselling, community health nursing, community mental health and aged-care support," Dr Hames said.
"Northam Hospital had initially been flagged to receive a $36.6 million upgrade under SIHI, however project cost savings mean the community will now benefit from additional improvements."
Mr Redman said SIHI was the biggest health investment in regional WA and the upgrades to Northam Hospital would provide high levels of service self-sufficiency and help build a more robust healthcare service in the region.
"Royalties for Regions funding through SIHI aims to address gaps in healthcare for the ongoing sustainability and increased prosperity across the southern half of the State," Mr Redman said.
"Northam and surrounding communities will now be able to receive a modern and contemporary health service closer to home."
The Australian government is contributing $5.5 million towards the new renal and cancer services at Northam Hospital.
While the tender process will determine the specific timeline for the project, it is expected the upgrade of Northam Hospital will start in the second half of 2015, and take about two years to complete.
SIHI will deliver infrastructure improvements to 36 towns in the southern inland region of WA.
The $325.8 million investment will involve upgrades to six district hospitals totalling $173.7 million, as well as an additional $108.8 million for upgrades and refurbishment of small hospitals and nursing posts.
A further $43.3 million has been allocated towards fit-for-purpose healthcare facilities that focus on the promotion of good health, prevention and early detection of illness, with the first two sites in Pingelly and Cunderdin under way.
Northam Shire president Steven Pollard said the SIHI program was included in the state budget from 2011 with a five-year timeline and there had been an audit conducted of what health services were provided.
"The decision to reaffirm the Northam Regional Hospital as a truly regional hospital, not merely a first aid and then transfer station, a year or two ago has helped form the view the Northam Hospital should be upgraded to best service its wider catchment area," Mr Pollard said.
"At present there is no renal dialysis service available at the hospital and Northam is apparently one of the few regional hospitals not to have such a service currently.
"The cancer treatment service is at a fairly elementary level only, so the enhancement of this service will be most welcomed by those affected by the treatment of the various cancers."
Shadow Health Minister Roger Cook said it was an extremely deceptive announcement by the Liberal-National government, trying to "con" regional Western Australians.
"Its claim that these hospitals are receiving a funding boost is laughable, given these upgrades were originally announced in May 2011," Mr Cook said.
"The budget cuts in December mean the people in these regions will have to wait two years extra to receive these important upgrades.
"This is yet another example of how the Government's terrible financial management is causing delays to important hospital upgrades across regional WA."
