Health on the agenda as is a call for palliative care beds in Joondalup
3 September 2019
• Local MPs are hosting a Health Forum on Thursday 12 September, with Minister for Health Roger Cook, to discuss how the McGowan Government is addressing the healthcare needs of the northern suburbs.
• The Joondalup Health Campus is set for an upgrade and expansion of $161 million to ensure it continues to meet the needs of the growing northern corridor.
• Member for Joondalup, Emily Hamilton, raised questions in parliament seeking additional information on the upgrades.
With the population in the northern suburbs growing and ageing, demand on local health services has increased. The Joondalup Health Campus (JHC) is a good hospital that needs to grow to meet this demand.
The Campus is set for an upgrade and expansion of $161 million to ensure it continues to meet the needs of the growing northern corridor. The McGowan Government has committed to delivering additional emergency department bays, additional inpatient beds, new mental health beds, additional operating theatres and additional car parking bays, with works due to commence in 2020.
Emily Hamilton, and Sabine Winton, members of Parliament for Joondalup and Wanneroo respectively, are hosting a Health Forum to provide the opportunity for Health Minister Roger Cook to outline upgrades at JHC.
As Stroke Week is held in September, information will be available from the Stroke Foundation and the Northern Suburbs Stroke Support Group. Both groups are very pleased with the Stroke Unit that was delivered by the McGowan Government in March this year.
The Health Forum will occur while the WA Parliament is discussing Voluntary Assisted Dying legislation. Dying with Dignity will be at the Forum to talk with local residents and provide information.
As part of the discussion around end of life, the State Government is investing significantly in palliative care. In Parliament last month, Ms Hamilton called for additional palliative care beds to be located at the Joondalup Health Campus, which is in line with a recommendation from the End of Life Choices Report.
Ms Hamilton and Ms Winton are circulating a petition to be tabled in the Parliament next month. If you would like a copy of the petition, contact [email protected] or [email protected]
This financial year, the McGowan Government is providing additional support and care to the sickest Western Australians through an end-of-life choices and palliative care services package. The new funding brings the McGowan Labor Government’s spend on palliative care services to a record $47.4 million.
Ms Hamilton and Ms Winton are committed to ensuring the McGowan Government is continuing to invest in healthcare infrastructure in the northern suburbs so that local residents can receive the care they need close to home.
Health Forum, Thursday 12 September 2019, 10:00am to 11:30am,
Admiral Park Community Sporting Facility, 65 Admiral Grove, Heathridge
RSVP: [email protected] or 9300 3990
[email protected] or 94051244
Comments attributed to Emily Hamilton:
“I am proud that we have already delivered on our election commitment for a stroke unit at the Joondalup Health Campus. I worked to ensure that it was operational ahead of the major upgrade and expansion. Opened in March 2019, this unit is already saving lives.
“As the Member for Joondalup I will continue to advocate for the needs of our community and this includes additional palliative care beds at Joondalup Health Campus.”
Comments attributed to Sabine Winton:
“The Northern Suburbs is one the fastest growing regions is the State and I am proud to be part of the McGowan Government which fulfilling its elections commitments and delivering better health services for the residents of the northern corridor.
“It is vitally important that we have high-quality palliative care services in the northern suburbs allowing our community to access these services closer to their home, family, and friends. I am very pleased to be working with Emily Hamilton MLA, Member for Joondalup to be pushing for these upgrades at the Joondalup Health Campus.”
Media contact: Emily Hamilton 9300 3990