New maternity hospital at Murdoch underway, but doctors still concerned about transfers of ill babies

New designs have been unveiled for the relocated $1.8 billion maternity hospital at Murdoch, but the Cook Government is yet to reveal it’s plan for critically ill babies who may need life-saving surgery at Perth Children’s Hospital. Construction officially started on the 274-bed Women and Babies Hospital on Tuesday, with artist impressions released showing what the 12-storey “world-class” facility would look like. The Cook Government’s decision to relocate from Subiaco to the Fiona Stanley precinct has been blasted by leading doctors, who say a 20km drive to Perth Children’s Hospital in Nedlands could put about 300 high-risk births each year in added danger. Health Minister Meredith Hammat said on Tuesday consultation was “ongoing” on options that could include a neo-natal satellite service or a new maternity ward at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, next to PCH. But the Government has vowed the “full suite” of services will open simultaneously, as the Premier and Ministers marked the start of earthworks in Murdoch on Tuesday. Health Infrastructure Minister John Carey has taken charge of overseeing the project and said it was on track to open within budget in 2029, despite a leaked project update warning the cost was likely to exceed $1.95 billion. “That was at a point in time. I think it was back in April. These things are always changing,” Mr Carey said. “I have to say this, I’ll never rule it out. I mean, as the Minister for Housing, I know this: cost escalations are a fact of life. “However . . . we’re very focused, obviously on cost, but also delivery of schedule. I mean, there were doubters. The opposition have talked down this timeframe. They said we can’t do it. “You can see the site right now. It’s underway.” He deferred to Ms Hammat, when asked whether any neo-natal expansion in Nedlands would also open by 2029: “but, obviously we are not building a hospital there.” Ms Hammat wouldn’t say when a final decision will be made. “The point is that we will develop the suite of services. So as we relocate King Edward Memorial Hospital to this site, we will have those other facilities in place,” she said. “I expect that we’ll have some information and something to say about that shortly.” Shadow Health Minister Libby Mettam said a decision is needed sooner, rather than later. “Labor promised a replacement for KEMH in 2019, six years later they are only just turning the sod on a facility that makes no provisiion for the sickest babies born in this State,” she said. “There is still no plan for how babies needing lifesaving surgery immediately after birth, surgery that can only be performed at the Perth Children’s Hospital, will be cared for. “Again it points to a focus on the wrong priorities.” Ms Hammat and Mr Carey were joined by Premier Roger Cook and Treasurer and Transport Minister Rita Saffioti, who promised parking will be expanded to support the new hospital. “We have signed a contract, and works will commence in a few weeks on the new western car park, which is a multi deck car park of 1500 bays,” Ms Saffioti said. “Progressively over the precinct, we’ll be delivering hundreds of additional car parks, over 1000 new car bays to support the increased activity in this precinct.”