Health minister slams Liberals’ ‘plan’ to rebuild Royal Perth Hospital

The WA Liberal party has promised to completely re-build Perth Royal Hospital if elected with an $80 million initial investment in what they call the state’s “shamefully neglected” healthcare facilities in WA.

On Saturday Liberals leader Libby Mettam announced plans to “return Western Australia’s
hospital services and facilities to a world-class standard”.

Royal Perth Hospital.Credit: Getty Images

“Our initial investment of $80 million in our first term of Government will facilitate the planning
and first stage site works for a staged complete rebuild of RPH,” she said.

“In a second term of government the Liberals will transform RPH into a modern and
sustainable hospital, trauma centre and healthcare hub.”

Mettam said the plan was the backbone of the Liberals’ commitment to fixing our broken healthcare system.

“This investment will ensure a well-planned, fiscally responsible approach rather than the
election-cycle-driven piecemeal approach that has been adopted by WA Labor,” she said.

Libby Mettam.

“The age of some of the buildings and the fragmented nature of the campus means that no
amount of ad hoc additions, adjustments and expansions will elevate Royal Perth Hospital to
a standard that will serve the needs of our growing population.

“Some buildings are older than a century which is creating inefficiencies, limited capacity and
making it difficult to integrate modern technology and clinical care.

Mettam said there were expectations emergency presentations will rise by 36 per cent over the next decade.

“This is all about planning for the future and delivering a decade-long plan to fix Labor’s
failings in health,” she said.

Heather Minister Amber-Jade Sanderson called it a “shamelessly undercooked plan” that won’t start work until 2029.

“This is a plan for a plan and the Liberal Party have a track record for Royal Perth Hospital,” she said.

“They promised it in 2008 and failed to deliver it.

“They promised it again in 2013 and failed to deliver it.

“And now they have promised it for a third time. This is the Ellenbrook rail line equivalent of the hospital system for the Liberal Party. It is a failed promise, and they have no credibility for delivering health infrastructure in Western Australia.”

Sanderson said there was no plan to keep delivering imperative emergency services at the hospital while “turning it into a building site”.

“In contrast, WA Labor’s plan will immediately expand the emergency department and provide up to 50 new treatment bays and we will start that work in the first budget of a re elected government,” she said.

“That will give an immediate uplift of treatment spaces. As part of that plan, we’re also providing $7 million for the master planning of the site.

“It is a complex site, and it does need redevelopment, but it has to be done carefully, and it needs to be calibrated carefully so that we’re not disrupting services.”