Carps the builder must remember the kids

February 18, 2008

The AMA (WA) has today called on the State Government to honour the original Reid Report recommendation to build a new home for the city's flagship children's hospital.

AMA (WA) president Geoff Dobb said the State Government could afford to build the people of WA new infrastructure like the recently-announced $1.1 billion Kitchener Park sporting stadium as well as a new site for Princess Margaret Hospital.

"The WA birth rate has increased by almost 20 per cent since 2002 and as a result the pressure being put on PMH is increasing. We have more children coming to PMH than ever before," Professor Dobb said.

"WA is a rich State, the economy is booming and we desperately need a new children's hospital. The Reid Report recognised this way back in its 2004 findings when it recommended PMH be rebuilt next to Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital. That data is now old and the situation is escalating."

"PMH is a wonderful institution, but behind the bright paint and balloons is an aging hospital that is not equipped to meet the needs of WA's children into the future."

Professor Dobb said a balance needed to be struck between community infrastructure and health care. He stressed it was not a one-or-the-other equation.

"The Government spends $5.5 billion annually on infrastructure – or $55 billion over 10 years. Building a new hospital to provide for the children of WA into the future must be a priority factored into this year's State Budget forward estimates."

Professor Dobb said Health Minister Jim McGinty had been made well aware of how desperate the situation at PMH was as doctors and nurses faced an ever-growing barrage of sick children needing help.

"The staff at PMH are doing a wonderful job under difficult circumstances. We can say the children of WA are getting world-class health care from doctors and nurses, but they are not in a world-class facility," Professor Dobb said.

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