Katanning Hospital set for revamp

Katanning District Hospital is set for an infrastructure boost after the allocation of $34.5 million under the Southern Inland Health Initiative.

Minister for Health Kim Hames, Minister for Regional Development Terry Redman and WA Country Health Services staff were in Katanning last Wednesday to make the announcement.

Dr Hames said Katanning Hospital would receive a new emergency department including an ambulance bay, new medical imaging, enhanced Telehealth and upgrades to support services.

"The upgraded Katanning Hospital will enhance the one-stop-shop for health services such as physiotherapy, speech therapy, occupational therapy, counselling, community health nursing, community mental health and aged-care support," he said.

Mr Redman said the upgrades to Katanning Hospital would provide high levels of service self-sufficiency, supporting the development of a more robust healthcare service in the region.

"Royalties for Regions funding through SIHI will enhance the liveability of regional WA," he said.

However, funding for the upgrades was announced in the 2011-12 State Budget.

Shadow health minister Roger Cook described the claim that hospitals were given a funding boost as "laughable".

"This is an extremely deceptive announcement by the Liberal-National Government," he said.

"It is trying to con regional Western Australians.

"The Budget cuts in December mean the people in these regions will have to wait two years extra to receive these important upgrades.

"This is yet another example of how the Government's terrible financial management is causing delays to important hospital upgrades across regional WA."

Shire president Alan McFarland said there were concerns about staffing the new facilities.

"We need to get the appropriately trained people to use the facilities that we have," he said.

"We have a $5 million maternity service building … that's pretty much closed down - I would hate to see anything risking emergency services as well.

"As Dr Hames said, spending the money on the good facilities will attract better doctors, and I hope that's the case."

Katanning Hospital will receive a $35.4 million upgrade as part of a $325.8 million boost to health infrastructure across southern WA, funded by the State Government's Royalties for Regions program.

The upgrades are set to start in mid-2015 and are expected to take 18 months to two years to complete.