Innovative modular hospital wards to boost WA’s hospital capacity | Mirage News

2022-06-28 11:55:00 By : Mr. Sam Ding

Western Australia’s new modular hospital ward will open for patients at Osborne Park Hospital next week, part of the McGowan Government’s commitment to deliver extra capacity to WA hospitals.

The 30 beds at Osborne Park Hospital will reach practical completion on July 1, with patients to move in the following week. The ward will care for patients who require rehabilitation following an amputation.

The new facility includes a gymnasium, therapy pod, dining room, 10 single bed rooms, 10 double rooms, staff offices and reception facilities, all seamlessly connected to the existing hospital.

These innovative beds have taken just over six months to construct and form part of the 530 new hospital beds to open by October this year, with more than 350 beds already online.

Osborne Park, Rockingham, Bentley and Bunbury general hospitals have all been expanded to deliver a combined 120 new beds.

Covering four regions, the wards will be used for patients requiring low-to-medium acuity care, freeing up hospital beds for patients needing more acute care.

The additional hospital capacity was made possible by modular construction and a fast-tracked approvals process that cut the delivery time down from years to months.

The project, through planning, construction and operational phases has produced significant outcomes for the State, including a boost to local employment, stimulating the economy and creation of new jobs.

Despite global shortages impacting the construction market the delivery of all four modular hospital wards is expected in less than 12 months.

The construction was delivered by Multiplex in partnership with the Department of Health and Finance.

The three remaining modular sites will be opened in the coming months, with all modular beds open by October this year.

As stated by Premier Mark McGowan:

“These beds are the first of their kind for the State and mark a new era for the public health system – a fast-tracked solution to help future-proof our hospitals.

“In one year my Government will bring 530 new hospital beds online – the equivalent of a new tertiary hospital, which would typically take 10 years to build.

“The modular beds at Osborne Park Hospital have taken just over six months to construct. This agile approach to infrastructure means we have been able to put extra capacity into the system when we needed it most.

“This is one of the biggest investments in WA’s health system, with more than 350 beds already online.”

As stated by Health Minister Amber-Jade Sanderson:

“Our record investment in health infrastructure ensures our hospitals can continue to meet the needs of Western Australians into the future.

“The innovative design of the new modular beds complements the hard work of our dedicated healthcare workforce, who continue to provide world-class patient care every day.

“Building a new hospital would take years and years but we have been able to boost capacity in mere months through this cutting-edge design and a streamlined process.”