Health Minister Amber-Jade Sanderson says lack of aged, primary care adding to Geraldton Health Campus stress

WA Health Minister Amber-Jade Sanderson says a lack of aged care facilities in Geraldton is contributing to an increased number of patients at Geraldton Health Campus, which she described as one of regional WA’s busiest hospitals. Ms Sanderson was asked in Parliament on Wednesday about record numbers of patients at Geraldton Health Campus and if anything was being done to make regional health a priority. The question came from North West Central MLA Merome Beard, who said only 55 per cent of patients at the Geraldton emergency department were being seen by specialists within the recommended time. Ms Sanderson told Parliament the Geraldton Health Campus was one of the busiest in the regions but also pointed to other factors contributing to the issue. “Geraldton also lacks a significant number of aged-care places for regional West Australians, with a higher proportion of adults in the Geraldton hospital for long, long periods of time,” she said. Ms Sanderson said the Government was committed to improving the situation at the hospital and Geraldton MLA Lara Dalton was working with aged-care providers to try bring them to the area to take the strain off the hospital. “We have done all the due diligence on what we need to do,” she said. “I know that the member for Geraldton is working hard and tirelessly to improve access to other health services in Geraldton like primary and aged care.” According to the State Government, coming upgrades at the hospital include an extension of the emergency department, an intensive care unit and a mental health unit. Last week’s State Budget allocated an extra $43.4 million to the Geraldton Health Campus upgrade, bringing the project’s total cost to $166.1 million. Ms Sanderson said the investment was not only important for the Mid West but could provide opportunities for people in the Pilbara region to receive treatment without needing to travel to Perth.