The so-called most delayed major project in WA has reached practical completion, with the Premier visiting Geraldton on Wednesday to see the $192 million redevelopment of Geraldton Health Campus up close.
“This year we are celebrating the completion of this project, the next stage of major redevelopment of the Geraldton Health Campus, and it delivers a modern, fit-for-purpose hospital that will reduce the need for patients to travel for treatment,” Roger Cook said.
The project, initially announced in 2017 and scheduled for completion in 2022, is due to open its emergency department next month.
Originally budgeted for $73m, the hospital now has a $192m price tag and has been under construction for five years.
Health Infrastructure Minister John Carey stood in front of the physically completed hospital and defended the budget blowout.
“I make no apologies for delivering this incredible medical hospital to the Mid West. Is the suggestion that we should not invest in delivering hospitals in regional Western Australia? The reality is that we have faced a COVID pandemic. Now we have uncertainty with the Iran war,” he said.
Mr Carey said the project had faced rising costs in construction but the investment was needed to “create the state-of-the-art hospital that Geraldton and the Mid West deserves” and not cut planned services.
In the most recent State Budget, the Government allocated funds to rent 78 properties in Geraldton for hospital staff, but Mr Carey insisted they were taking measures to offset the strain on the local housing market.
“Our Government is doing everything it can to accelerate the delivery of housing across Western Australia through a number of different means,” he said.
“Our State is facing extraordinary population growth, and with that becomes demand on our hospital system. That’s why you’re seeing an unprecedented $5.5 billion investment to transform and upgrade hospitals across Western Australia.”
Health Minister Meredith Hammat encouraged locals to apply for jobs at the hospital, which still needs to fill about half of the 160 roles available.
“We’ve had a really good response already to the recruitment that we’ve been doing. We are seeing a strong interest in people who want to come and work in our health services in Western Australia,” she said.
The expanded emergency department will add 25 new beds and 10 additional treatment bays.
The ED and community mental health service will welcome patients in August, while the dedicated mental health facility and other services will open from September.
“This redevelopment also significantly strengthens mental health services in the Mid West region. It brings together assessment, treatment and ongoing support into one integrated service here,” Ms Hammat said.
Earlier this year, site works started on a $38.4m radiation oncology unit — a facility allowing local cancer patients to receive treatment closer to home, and promised during last year’s State election campaign.
The project has been jointly funded by the State and Federal governments and is due to be finished in 2027.
Ms Hammat said opening the hospital in stages would prioritise “safety and quality of care” as they integrated with local services such as St John WA and acquired the necessary equipment.
More than $19m in contracts have been awarded to Mid West businesses during the construction phase.
Mr Cook pointed out that the last major redevelopment that took place at the hospital was under former premier and Geraldton-born Geoff Gallop.
“This is the biggest redevelopment of the Geraldton Hospital in more than two decades,” he said.
That $49m project was completed in June 2006.
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