Palliative care services have received a $9.5 million funding boost in Western Australia, with Health Minister, Roger Cook announcing a major upgrade for Kalamunda Hospital.
Located in the Perth Hills, Kalamunda Hospital is a specialist 39-bed hospital with 25 palliative care beds.
Mr Cook said the funding was part of the WA Recovery Plan and would be used to redevelop the palliative care section of the hospital to care for patients when they are unable to get the care they require at home and support the provision of an integrated, contemporary model of care.Â
“In accordance with the Western Australian End of Life and Palliative Care Strategy 2018-2028 – every Western Australian with a life-limiting illness has the right to high quality integrated end of life and palliative care,” said Mr Cook.
“Funding will help ensure Kalamunda Hospital can continue to provide high quality palliative care and respond to the dying person’s individual needs, wishes and preferences, with the key objective being person-centred and dignified care.
“These enhancements of the hospital’s palliative care section will help create an environment that ensures patients and their families or carers receive the highest possible care.”
He said the upgrade would see the reconfiguration of patient rooms to create single rooms with ensuites and improved access to outdoor spaces, and the upgrading of facilities and amenities for families and carers.
Funding will also be provided for additional therapeutic spaces such as improved gardens and landscaping outdoors and incorporation of an indoor art/therapy room.
The enhanced palliative care service at Kalamunda Hospital will also incorporate proactive outreach models of care and improved service linkages, supports and capacity within East Metropolitan Health Service, in addition to a day hospice and outpatient services including Telehealth.
“My constituents believe, as I do, that Kalamunda Hospital is well placed to become a centre of excellence in the practice and delivery of both in-patient and out-patient palliative care, so I’m pleased that the McGowan Government has listened to their wishes,” said Kalamunda MLA, Matthew Hughes.
“I recently presented a petition to Parliament that local people were very keen to sign suggesting a centre of excellence expansion of the fine existing provision at Kalamunda Hospital.
“This wise investment will provide jobs in construction and in operation over many years, as well as delivering evidence-based high-quality palliative care practices to inform and educate palliative care practitioners and carers.”
Minister Cook said planning for the refurbishment work would start immediately and anticipated that the construction phase would start mid-2021.
