Hon Colin Barnett MEc MLA,Hon Kim Hames MB BS JP MLA — Emergency departments scrubbing up for change

The third and largest phase of Fiona Stanley Hospital kick-starts tomorrow when the doors to the emergency department open at 7am, at the same time as the Fremantle Hospital emergency department closes, in a highly involved and complex transition.

Premier Colin Barnett visited the State’s newest tertiary facility today as hospital staff put final preparations in place to receive the first emergency patients.

“The opening of the emergency department at Fiona Stanley Hospital is the culmination of many months of detailed planning across multiple sites, which is a testament to the people involved,” Mr Barnett said.

“It is a huge logistical exercise to move patients and involves collaboration between the Department of Health, WA Police, Department of Fire and Emergency Services, St John Ambulance and Main Roads Western Australia.

“All that hard work is paying off with Fiona Stanley Hospital now almost fully operational, which is itself a milestone in the delivery of the best possible health care in the best possible facilities this State has to offer.”

Health Minister Kim Hames said staff at the emergency department at Fiona Stanley Hospital would see about 95,000 patients a year, and the facilities were designed with patient privacy and safety in mind.

“The emergency department has an innovative layout with separate entrances for children and adults, which means patients have access to specialised trauma care,” Dr Hames said.

In addition to the emergency department, a wide range of acute services such as paediatrics, coronary care, cancer services and mental health will also open as part of Phase 3.

Dr Hames said the range of health care transitions under way will transform the delivery of health care in WA, and includes the move of the State Burns Service from Royal Perth Hospital to a state-of-the-art unit at Fiona Stanley Hospital.

The fourth and final stage of the $2 billion Fiona Stanley Hospital opening is likely to be ahead of its scheduled March date and will see the commencement of complex heart and lung transplant services.