WA to welcome first Medihotel

The 60-room Medihotel facility is set to provide support for the nearby hospitals, and has been welcomed by Western Australia’s Minister for Health Roger Cook.

“This announcement marks the first of these specialist Medihotels,” he says.

“Others will follow ensuring high-cost, high-care beds in our major hospitals are freed up for those most in need as we deliver on our promise to put patients first.

“Medihotels will be especially welcomed by Western Australians from regional areas who often find themselves admitted for long periods for simple day surgery.

“The Medihotels will help reduce waiting times in emergency departments, and waiting lists for elective surgery, by ensuring patients who are not ready to be discharged – but no longer in need of that high-level care – can recover in comfort, with family and loved ones close by in a convenient location.”

As well as providing beds and relief for hospitals, the new facility is also set to deliver 175 apartments with 30 per cent expected to be affordable housing, a 150-bed aged care facility, a 6,480 square metre super medical clinic, short-stay accommodation, as well as 6,080 square metres of commercial, retail and amenity space.

Australian Medical Association (AMA) Western Australia President Dr Omar Khorshid says the Association does not have a problem with the idea of Medihotels, and welcomed the ‘lateral thinking idea’.

“The AMA endorsed the idea of Medihotels more than a decade ago, and they have already been implemented successfully in other areas of the country.

“Bed shortages are a serious problem, any measures that could alleviate some of the stress on the system should be looked at.”

While offering full support of the initiative, Dr Khorshid also says clarifications need to be in place.

“If the facility is appropriately staffed and patient care is not jeopardised in any way, then we welcome the initiative,” he says.

“However, the State Government also needs to clarify aspects of its proposal – where will these facilities be set up? How will they be staffed?

“There also needs to be more immediate measures to improve capacity in the system, such as utilising existing facilities at Fremantle Hospital.”

Work will begin on Western Australia’s first Medihotel next year with the facility expected to open next door to Fiona Stanley Hospital by 2021.