Mount Lawley Hospital moves into public health system next week

The state government purchased the 196-bed hospital from St John of God Health Care for $80 million in a bid to ease some of the pressure facing public hospitals.

It will officially enter the public health system on August 31 with 450 existing staff transitioning across.

To fund the purchase the government scrapped the $1.6 billion Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre redevelopment to create the Building Hospitals Fund.

The purchase is part of a $224.8 million investment to purchase and begin operation of the hospital.

Bringing the hospital fully into the public system will allow the site to play an increasingly important role supporting patient care across our health system, particularly for the eastern suburbs, the state government said in a statement.

It will provide a range of services including general medicine, rehabilitation and geriatric care, older adult mental health services and outpatient care.

The purchase, first announced in November last year, followed a winter of intense pressure across the public health system, which saw record rates of ambulance ramping due to a lack of available beds, and the postponement of elective surgeries at some hospitals.

Some hospitals declared ‘code yellow’ events – internal emergencies that signal capacity concerns. It promoted warnings from the AMA (WA) and other health bodies of a system facing an emergency.

This year, while ambulance ramping has been lower and seasonal illnesses that put pressure on emergency departments have not been as prevalent, hospitals are still not immune to capacity issues.

AMA (WA) President Dr Kyle Hoath spoke of the significant pressure faced by hospitals in a blog last week following a fire at Fiona Stanley Hospital.

“Our hospital system has very little capacity to absorb unexpected shocks. Despite ambulance ramping being less severe than last year’s record seasonal highs, hospitals across Perth are operating under significant pressure, with extraordinary demand in emergency departments, wards and intensive care units.”

Deputy Premier Rita Saffioti said the government was doing everything it could to improve the state’s health system.

“Bringing an entire hospital into public hands is a significant undertaking and I'm really pleased by how quickly we've been able to deliver this for the community,” she said.

"Our government's focus throughout this transition has been on making sure patients continue to receive high-quality care and supporting the hardworking staff who deliver it.”

Health Minister Meredith Hammat said the message to patients was simple: you don't need to do anything differently and your care will continue.

The hospital will be run by the East Metropolitan Health Service.

SJOG Health Care chief executive Bryan Pyne said the organisation would continue to work closely with EMHS to support a smooth transition for patients.

“As we approach the handover our focus remains on providing patients with safe, high-quality and compassionate care, while ensuring a smooth and seamless transition for patients and the community,” he said.