Health care benefits many

And the hospital offered some respite in a testing week for WA Health Minister Kim Hames recently, when he officially opened the building on June 6.

Mr Hames, under scrutiny over conditions at Princess Margaret Hospital, enjoyed a moment of celebration in Joondalup, with the new hospital freeing up in-demand space for public patients at Joondalup Health Campus.

Private patients were previously treated in the main hospital building, but had since been transferred to the 145-bed private hospital built next to the health campus.

The remaining campus space will be converted to public hospital facilities.

Mr Hames said it gave residents more treatment options close to home.

‘In addition to offering more choice to people living in the community, it frees up existing beds for public patients, which can open as the community grows in this fast expanding northern corridor of Perth,’ he said.

Mr Hames’ visit to the hospital came as the $390 million redevelopment of Joondalup Health Campus neared completion.

JHC deputy chief executive Di Jones said work was progressing on the final projects, which included new chemotherapy and medical centres, a clinical school and expanded day surgery.

‘In addition to funding the construction of Joondalup Private Hospital, Ramsay Health Care has contributed towards the cost of many of the new back-of-hospital facilities in the theatre block, as well as the new specialist medical centre and the clinical school,’ she said.

The State Government contributed $230 million to the upgrade, while Ramsay Health Care spent $132 million.

The University of WA, Curtin University and Edith Cowan University has contributed funds to the new school.