The 54-year-old Tom Price Hospital will be rebuilt and replaced with a new $32.8 million facility, after a funding agreement was signed between the State Government and Rio Tinto.
WA Premier, Mark McGowan said the $32.8 million investment was supported by a $20 million contribution from Rio Tinto, and would go toward providing the local community with a long awaited, contemporary, fit for purpose facility. Â
“The State Government has worked with Rio Tinto to replace the ageing Tom Price Hospital, which will service local families, as well as local Aboriginal communities,” Mr McGowan said.Â
“Rio Tinto is investing $1 billion in Western Turner Syncline Phase 2 which will create 1,000 jobs at peak construction while sustaining Western Turner Syncline operations,” he said.
“The new hospital facilities will be available to the workers and their families.”
Health Minister, Roger Cook said planning for the new facility was already underway and the design is anticipated to include a modern emergency department with private interview room, consulting rooms for visiting services and a four-bed inpatient ward.Â
“The signing of a Funding Contribution Deed formalises the partnership between the Department of Health and Rio Tinto to start the replacement of Tom Price Hospital,” he said.Â
“Early planning is looking at how services can be integrated and supported by digital technology to improve access and provide patients with timely care close to home.”
He said new medical imaging equipment and digitally enabled telehealth services would enable care to be provided closer to home and on-country for local communities.Â
As well as servicing Tom Price and Paraburdoo mining towns, the new facility will provide care for local Aboriginal communities of Wakathuni, Youngaleena and Bellary Springs, along with the large number of tourists who visit nearby Karijini National Park each year.
The Health Minister said service delivery would continue at the existing hospital throughout the redevelopment.
