Clinical nurse manager Leesa Kerr  and Health Minister Kim Hames with Doug Williams, from Shoalwater.
Camera IconClinical nurse manager Leesa Kerr and Health Minister Kim Hames with Doug Williams, from Shoalwater. Credit: Supplied/Jon Hewson        d439272

Fremantle Hospital to Double Elective Surgery Rate

Jessica NicoFremantle Gazette

The centre is part of a more than $5 million transformation of the hospital to turn it into a 300-bed specialist facility providing aged care, mental health, rehabilitation and specialist medical services.

The $1.49 million refurbishment of the old emergency room has 50 beds, and Health Minister Kim Hames said it could treat up to 60 elective patients a day or 15,000 a year.

“Fremantle Hospital will play an integral role in reducing the elective surgery waitlist now it has transitioned from a tertiary hospital to the State’s largest specialist hospital,” he said.

“The hospital’s admission points for day surgery have also been streamlined so you no longer have five different areas to go for your procedure, which was confusing for patients and visitors.”

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Fremantle Hospital and Health Service executive director David Blythe said typical cases the centre would cater for included ophthalmology such as cataracts, orthopaedics like hip and knee replacements and general surgeries for things like hernias and gall bladder removals.

“The DAC is progressing well and we’re beginning to see a steady stream of patients through the front door and feedback from patients has been positive,” he said.