New equipment to improve patient care in Port Hedland, Grylls

Author: Brendon Grylls
Published on: 05-November-2009

Pilbara residents are to benefit from new medical equipment worth $2.5million currently being installed in hospitals across the region, including Port Hedland Hospital.

Regional Development Minister Brendon Grylls and Health Minister Kim Hames said the new equipment would give people living in the Pilbara access to high-tech diagnostic and other hospital services.

Mr Grylls said Pilbara hospitals - including Port Hedland - would receive the new equipment, which was funded through the State Government’s Royalties for Regions program

“The rapid pace of resource development, increasing population and demand for services in the Pilbara continues to have a significant impact on its health system,” he said.

Port Hedland Hospital has received up-to-date emergency department (ED) monitoring equipment; a patient transport monitor; a new ECG machine; endoscopes, which will provide earlier diagnosis of bladder and stomach diseases; and a steris machine to clean the endoscopes. Dr Hames said the central monitoring system for the emergency department would help clinicians with patient assessment and monitoring by identifying changes in a patient’s condition.

“The patient transport monitor is a mobile unit that monitors vital signs such as blood pressure, heart rate and temperature and can be used for adults, children and babies,” he said “It gives an early indication of patient declining condition, which is very useful when monitoring people with altered levels of consciousness.”

Also arriving in the next few weeks will be new theatre instruments, including an orthopaedic drill and ENT microscopes, a fast scanner and other equipment.

Dr Hames said modern equipment would enable medical, nursing and imaging staff to provide the best possible health services for people who live and work in the Pilbara.