New centre to tackle elective surgery waitlists

• Fremantle Hospital Day Admissions Centre opens today
• Centre to perform more elective surgery by seeing twice as many patients daily
• $1.49 million refurbishment with 50 bed/chair spaces, 21 more than previously

Fremantle Hospital will treat twice the number of elective surgery patients following the opening of its purpose-built 50-bed Day Admissions Centre today.

Health Minister Kim Hames said Fremantle Hospital would make a positive impact on the elective surgery waitlists by treating up to 60 patients each day or more than 15,000 patients a year.

"Fremantle Hospital will play an integral role in reducing the elective surgery waitlist now it has transitioned from a tertiary hospital to the State's largest specialist hospital," Dr Hames said.

"The Day Admissions Centre is a $1.49 million refurbishment of the old emergency department and I'm impressed with how it has transformed into a modern and advanced elective surgery hub with 21 extra bed or chair spaces that can be used several times during the day.

"The hospital's admission points for day surgery have also been streamlined so you no longer have five different areas to go for your procedure, which was confusing for patients and visitors."

The Minister said the hospital had undergone significant clinical service redesign since its transition to a specialist hospital, with one of the most important changes being the introduction of a staggered surgery admission process.

Two daily patient intakes, one at 6.30am and the other at 11.30am, will effectively double the number of elective surgery or procedures being undertaken by staff at the hospital.

The Day Admissions Centre is part of Fremantle Hospital's $5.2 million refurbishment project to enhance patient safety and clinical/non-clinical operations. After successfully transitioning its tertiary services to Fiona Stanley Hospital in February this year, Fremantle Hospital is now the largest specialist facility of its kind in Western Australia.

As a 300-bed specialist facility, Fremantle Hospital provides a range of services including aged care, mental health, secondary rehabilitation, planned surgery and specialist medical services.

Fact File

• Entrance and drop-off/pick up for the centre is from South Terrace, Fremantle
• First patients due 6.30am
• Ongoing upgrades to the existing building are scheduled until 2020
• For more information, visit http://www.fhhs.health.wa.gov.au  

Minister's office - 6552 5300