UPGRADES are in store for 26 small hospitals and nursing posts in the Central Wheatbelt and Great Southern regions as part of a $325.8 million healthcare infrastructure boost, funded by the state government's Royalties for Regions program.
Health Minister Kim Hames and Regional Development Minister Terry Redman announced the funding for a range of health projects as part of the government's Southern Inland Health Initiative (SIHI).
Dr Hames said work on the hospital upgrades and nursing posts was expected to start before the end of the year and be complete late in 2016.
"Community consultations and planning will continue to be undertaken to determine what works will be carried out to the small hospitals and nursing posts," he said.
"In some cases the works may involve infrastructure upgrades and may include an upgrade to the existing facility, this will be determined during the planning and consultation phase."
Mr Redman said planning for health reform has been under way since 2011 and a number of milestones had been reached.
"These include the installation of Telehealth strategy across the region, an attraction strategy to increase the number of general practitioners in regional towns, a 24/7 roster in larger emergency departments and an Emergency Telehealth Service," Mr Redman said.
The $325.8m SIHI investment will involve $173.7m worth of upgrades to six district hospitals, $108.8m for upgrades and refurbishment of small hospitals and nursing posts and a further $43.3m towards the Primary Health Care Demonstration Site program, with the first sites, in Pingelly and Cunderdin, underway.
The Wheatbelt towns to benefit from the small hospital and nursing post refurbishment are Lake Grace, Wagin, Dalwallinu, Jurien Bay, Moora, York, Southern Cross, Boddington, Dumbleyung, Beverley, Wundowie, Wyalkatchem, Goomalling, Wongan Hills, Bruce Rock, Kellerberrin, Kununoppin, Quairading, Corrigin, Narembeen, Kondinin, Mukinbudin and Williams.
Those in the Great Southern are Kojonup, Gnowangerup and Tambellup.
