Hospital poses risk as new one urged

Meekatharra residents are circulating a petition for a new hospital.

North West Central member Vince Catania said the existing building presented a fire and safety risk.

“The staff at Meekatharra Hospital provide an amazing level of care and service for the communities of the Murchison,” he said.

“It is entirely unfair that these people come to work every day in a hospital, which is not only dilapidated and miserably under-funded, but presents a risk to both staff and patients’ health and safety.”

Meekatharra Shire president Norm Trenfield said the building continued to deteriorate with many parts requiring urgent attention.

“The hospital does not meet current fire and safety standards in many areas,” he said.

“A range of modern health care services is vital to our regional communities and is often a key consideration for people deciding to come work and live in our towns.”

There is no allocation for a new Meekatharra Hospital in the State Budget announced last week.

The petition calls on the Legislative Assembly to reinstate Royalties for Regions funding for the new hospital.

However, a spokesperson for Health Minister Roger Cook said the previous State Government had not started to plan a new hospital. “It’s worth noting it wasn’t in the Opposition’s budget when they were government,” she said. “No business case was completed.”

She said Mr Cook was “keen” for the Health Department to start planning the project.

“We recognise it’s an ageing facility that doesn’t meet modern standards,” she said.