Senator Sue Lines with clinical nurse specialist Alexandra Dray.
Camera IconSenator Sue Lines with clinical nurse specialist Alexandra Dray. Credit: Supplied/Marcelo Palacios

Expansion funds lead to aged care upgrades

Jaime Shurmer, Comment NewsComment News

Sixteen beds were opened for patients needing rehabilitation and subacute care, including a dedicated single-bed room for bariatric (obese) patients.

This room is one of two that holds the hospital’s first ceiling hoists, which clinical nurse specialist Alexandra Dray said made it much easier for patients to be lifted and carried safely to their ensuite.

Ceiling tracks are also installed in two other rooms so portable hoists can be added when needed.

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Ms Dray, who was involved from the start of the planning process 18 months ago, said she had focused on improving facilities for staff while delivering better patient care.

‘We enlarged the gym, patients have a new courtyard, the staff have a separate courtyard, we are the first in the hospital to use an electronic whiteboard system at the nurses station, and there is plenty of storage,’ she said.

A third consultant joined the team yesterday and Ms Dray said communication between staff would be boosted with inter-disciplinary rooms where the teams for each doctor can work together. ‘Previously we had separate rooms for occupational therapists, physios and social work,’ she said.

Vinyl floors instead of carpet made the ward easier to clean and storage units identical to those being installed at Fiona Stanley Hospital were added.

Ms Dray said staffing levels had been boosted by more than 40 jobs as part of the federally-funded expansion.