Bunbury Hospital gets more beds as COVID looms

The State Government has confirmed Bunbury Hospital will be given 30 new beds and extra medical staff in a bid to prepare WA for living with COVID-19. Health Minister Roger Cook named Bunbury as one of four sites set to receive a 30-bed modular ward — along with Osborne Park, Rockingham and Bentley hospitals — the only regional hospital to receive the boost. The 120 beds across the four sites form part of the 270 additional beds announced earlier this month and will cost $206.8 million. The additional beds will be supported by 410 extra nurses and more than 180 extra doctors. They will be based on modular hospital wards used around the globe throughout the pandemic and will mainly be used for patients who do not need acute care. The Department of Health is hoping to fast-track the project, having sent a letter of intent to a contractor in the hope of getting work under way as soon as possible. The Health Minister said the additional beds would boost WA’s capacity to combat COVID-19 outbreaks. “A first of its kind for the WA health system, the 120 new beds will allow us to continue to surge and remain agile in the face of this pandemic,” Mr Cook said.