Pressure rises in the ED

Wheels need to start turning next year to get hospital upgraded

Back in 2005, South West Healthcare leaders knew Warrnambool would need a bigger, more efficient hospital.

They had a masterplan drawn up, completed in 2010, and the project was broken into two stages.

As 2016 draws to a close, the health service is still waiting to get the tick of approval to begin the lengthy process to begin stage two.

South West Healthcare chief executive officer John Krygger said he remained positive the urgently-needed project would eventuate.

“The real need is going to win the argument,” he said. “I’m hoping that the planets align and the current government sees fit to fund this major investment.”

Stage two of the project would involve the expansion of both the emergency department and operating theatres, short-stay unit and pathology and radiology block.

Mr Krygger said the current emergency department, completed in 1997, was designed to handle about 15,000 patients per annum. The department has well exceeded that capacity, with about 26,000 patients presenting during the 2015/2016 financial year.

He described the emergency department as the "front door" of the hospital and the operating theatres as "the engine room", and said problems in those areas had a flow-on effect on the rest of the hospital.

“I wouldn't say patient care is being compromised but the efficiency of patient flow is being significantly compromised,” he said.

The $119 million first stage, funded by Labor in 2009, included a new inpatient block, integrated care centre, mental health extended care unit and new ambulance station. It was finished in 2012/2013.

“It was believed that we would roll seamlessly from stage one to stage two, but there’s been several changes of government and several changes of policy direction, plus the advent of the cancer centre,” Mr Krygger said.

Even if funding is committed to get on with the project it will still take years for construction to begin.

“Capital projects for a health service have unbelievably long lag times,” he said. “Even if it was announced tomorrow, you wouldn't see any construction commencing prior to at least two-and-a-half years’ time.

“What we’re trying to achieve at this point, given the lengthy lag times, is to get the planning started.”

The estimated cost of the stage two project is $112 million, but every year it's delayed the cost blows out by another four per cent.

He said an ageing population and growing demand from Portland, Hamilton and Mount Gambier for high quality care was putting huge pressure on the hospital.

“We want to future-proof this health service for future generations,” he said. “We’ve simply outgrown our existing facilities.”