Media Statement
Monday October 5 2015
Temporary changes to surgical services at Esperance Health Campus
Temporary changes are in place at Esperance Health Campus as work progresses on a new state-of-the-art operating theatre and day surgery unit.
As part of the $31.3 million redevelopment, significant work is needed to complete the new and expanded facilities, which will have a short-term impact on non-urgent elective surgery services.
WA Country Health Service—Goldfields Regional Director Geraldine Ennis said that every effort will be made to minimise any disruption and the construction work will be completed as soon as possible.
“While construction is under way an operating theatre will be temporarily re-located to the new Emergency Department to cater for emergency and highest priority theatre cases only,” Ms Ennis said.
“It will be necessary to redirect non-urgent elective surgery to other sites, such as the Kalgoorlie Health Campus.
“These works affect the surgical department only. The Emergency Department will remain open and will continue to service the community at all times.
“Patients who are required to travel to Kalgoorlie or other sites for their procedure during this period will be supported through the Patient Assisted Travel Scheme (PATS).
“Every effort is being made to ensure this temporary change in services will be limited and any disruption or inconvenience minimised with construction of the new facilities completed as quickly as possible.
“We thank you for your patience and cooperation during this period and apologise for any inconvenience this may cause.”
As part of the redevelopment, the Esperance Health Campus also now has a new telephone number 9079 8000.
If you have any queries about hospital services please call 9079 8000. Callers to the old number will be automatically redirected for twelve months.
The entire Esperance Health Campus redevelopment is expected to be completed in early 2017.
The redevelopment, which includes $18.8 million in funding from the State Government Royalties for Regions program, is being undertaken in stages to minimise disruption to services.
The new emergency department will have almost triple the capacity of the current one and include two state-of-the-art resuscitation bays, a procedure room, treatment bays and consulting rooms for greater privacy.
The new day surgery unit will have its own entrance allowing patients to enter the building from a close-by set down and parking area.
The project is part of the State Government’s $7 billion investment in health infrastructure which is providing country patients with health care closer to where they live.
The Esperance Health Campus redevelopment is part of the Government’s Bigger Picture in Health. For more information, visit Get the Bigger Picture – health at http://getthebiggerpicture.health.wa.gov.au
Media contact Peter Cogan WACHS Communications 6145 4166.
Government of Western Australia