Health Minister John Day dismisses Labor plans for RPH as ‘big con’

HEALTH Minister John Day has dismissed Opposition Leader Mark McGowan’s plans for Royal Perth Hospital (RPH) as a “big con”.

Labor launched its plan for the East Perth hospital yesterday, including the establishment of a residential ‘Medihotel’, an Urgent Care Clinic to take pressure off the emergency department, and a new focus on innovation and mental health.

The Urgent Care Clinic will treat patients who present at the hospital with non-life threatening conditions and the Medihotel will treat patients discharged from hospital but receiving outpatient services.

The plan includes a Mental Health Observation Area for RPH; a quiet, safe section within the emergency department to help patients with mental health conditions as well as drug and alcohol intoxication who are not acute enough to require admission.

Mr McGowan said, “RPH has served the inner suburbs of Perth for generations and WA Labor is committed to its future”.

“We will build on existing services to ensure local families get health care when and where they need it,” he said.

But Mr Day called the plan “a big con”.

“(Labor) need to explain where the money is coming from, who is going to lose their jobs and what services are going to be cut,” he said.

“The current Government has saved RPH, invested $58 million over eight years and another $7 million for a new helipad so it can continue as the state’s major trauma centre.”

Mr Day said the Government invested $55 million in the new Harry Perkins centre at RPH and Fiona Stanley Hospital.