Fiona Stanley Hospital.
Camera IconFiona Stanley Hospital. Credit: Supplied/Supplied

Deal to transfer elderly from hospital to community care providers will free up beds

Jaime ShurmerMelville Gazette

ELDERLY patients will be transferred out of hospital to community care providers to free up 75 beds in Perth’s hospitals before the busy winter season.

The deal between the State and Federal governments was announced Tuesday, January 31.

Fiona Stanley Hospital is expected to reap some benefit from the deal. A spokesperson for the hospital said that 44 patients at FSH and Fremantle Hospital, combined, were waiting for a Transition Care Program bed last winter.

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The deal frees up the equivalent of two hospital wards.

Federal Aged Care Minister Ken Wyatt and Health Minister John Day made the announcement together, on the eve of caretaker mode, at FSH.

“This is a win-win for the community, ensuring we have more beds available while delivering extra value for Western Australian taxpayers.

“It is fundamental to our strategy to streamline care and increase health system throughput, in preparation for the busiest time of year.”

The Federal Government has agreed to contribute 62.5 per cent of the cost of 60 of the 75 beds.

The State will pay $4.3 million toward the remaining percentage including an extra 15 beds.

Allocation of the new aged care places will start April after a tender process.

The funding arrangement will continue for 18 months until June 30, 2018.