South-West to be home to WA’s first regional coronary care unit, Grylls
Author: Brendon Grylls
Published on: 08-June-2011
Regional Development Minister Brendon Grylls today announced $5million in Royalties for Regions funding would be used to establish Western Australia’s first regional coronary care unit.
Mr Grylls said a six-bed coronary care unit would be built at St John of God Hospital in Bunbury to each year provide care for more than 2,000 South-West residents hospitalised with acute cardiac conditions.
“Because specialist coronary care services are not available in the South-West, most of these people are forced to travel to Perth - away from family and friends - for life-saving diagnostic and therapeutic treatments,” he said.
“This new facility, which will include an angiography suite, will enable people who have had heart attacks or are suffering chest pain to receive the care they need close to home.”
Health Minister Kim Hames said the stand-alone unit, which was expected to open in 2012, would be accessible to both public and private patients.
“I am pleased the State Government’s Royalties for Regions program, through the efforts of the South West Development Commission, will help St John of God Hospital Bunbury to bring such a vital health service to the South-West region,” he said.
“This initiative will have a positive impact on people’s quality of life, allowing patients to receive specialist care without having to travel to Perth.
“It will help keep families together in challenging times and relieve burdens associated with travel and distance.”
Dr Hames said a planned 24-hour service will provide a welcome boost to health services in the South-West region.
“In addition to the health care benefits for patients, it will also provide job opportunities for medical practitioners, including cardiologists, angiography technicians and radiographers,” he said.
