St John of God Health Care has announced approval for the major redevelopment of St John of God Subiaco Hospital, the largest in the organisation’s history.
The redevelopment will add a new eight storey clinical block, private emergency department, a Mother and Baby Unit including a new Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, a virtual care hub, and a purpose-built pandemic ward to care for patients when outbreaks of highly infectious diseases such as COVID-19 occur.
It will also transform the hospital experience for patients, offering a hotel-style stay, including a la carte room service, and 98 per cent of the hospital’s rooms will be single, private rooms.
St John of God Health Care Group Chief Executive Officer, Dr Shane Kelly, said the redevelopment would enable the hospital to provide a greater range of services as well as enhance the patient experience.
“This substantial investment will advance St John of God Subiaco Hospital’s position as a leading provider of private hospital services by creating a state-of-the-art hospital designed and equipped to meet the health needs of our community now and into the future,” he said.
“As Western Australia’s largest private hospital operator, St John of God Health Care is focused on responding to our patients and communities needs by identifying opportunities to add new services, and enhance our key services lines through the addition of new technology and equipment.’’
A new eight storey clinical block is the centrepiece of the redevelopment, featuring 260 single rooms and, upon completion, add more than 150 beds to the hospital site. A further six new theatres, including a hybrid theatre will be part of the development.
The new 24/7 emergency department will offer a boutique experience enabling patients to be treated rapidly.
This will be supported by a virtual care hub will enable remote monitoring of patients in the hospital, at home and, potentially, at other St John of God Health Care hospitals.
The new clinical block will also feature a dedicated mother and baby unit, including a new Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, with large and luxurious bedrooms on the upper floors offering new parents magnificent views.
The lower floors will have a dedicated Heart Centre, bringing together cardiac intervention services, a new coronary care unit and cardiothoracics.
St John of God Subiaco Hospital Chief Executive Officer, Professor Shirley Bowen, said the redevelopment would set the standard for the future of private health care delivery and facility design.
“We are creating a hospital of the future, transforming care delivery, the patient experience and the health care environment,” she said.
“We are delighted to radically improve our amenities to provide our patients, in particular our new mums and dads, a hotel-style experience, including a la carte dining, and large, modern rooms with private ensuites, underpinned by the safest possible care.”
Prof Bowen said the facilities would enable innovations in care and, through the addition of an Emergency Department, facilitate the community to get immediate 24/7 access to the hospital’s care.
“We are excited to add an emergency department and incorporate the virtual care hub into our hospital. The hub uses technology to further inform our nurses and specialists about the wellbeing of our patients and take action immediately, and will enhance the level of care we provide to patients in our hospital, at home, and even extend our care to our other hospitals,” she said.
“Our new services will extend the excellent clinical care for which St John of God Subiaco Hospital has long been renowned.”
Prof Bowen, who is also a Professor of Infectious Diseases and a high-profile leader of WA’s private hospital response to COVID-19, said including a dedicated pandemic ward into the design was a priority.
“To be prepared for future outbreaks of COVID-19, or similar infectious diseases that can arise at any time, and are increasing in frequency, we are including a purpose built ward to help us care for patients who need to be isolated, or need specialised equipment,” she said.
“The ward will be negatively pressured and provide a safer environment for our patients and caregivers.”
The first stage of the redevelopment will upgrade the hospital’s kitchen, increase the number of lifts, and expand the sterilisation department.
Additional floors will be added to the car park, and a new engineering/energy plant will connect new and existing facilities.
Approval was previously granted by the Town of Cambridge for the hospital’s Local Development Plan, and a Development Application is progressing for the remaining work.
Redevelopment overview:
- New eight-storey 260 bed clinical block
- State-of-the-art facilities with connected technology to enhance patient experience, clinical excellence and innovation
- New 24/7 emergency department offering a boutique experience and enabling rapid access to clinical care
- Virtual care hub to enable remote patient monitoring
- Dedicated mother and baby unit with large patient rooms on pre and post natal wards, new emergency obstetric operating theatre, 10 birth suites, and neonatal ICU
- Six new theatres and pre and post surgical facilities
- Dedicated infectious diseases pandemic ward
- Kitchen upgrade to enable hospital-wide a la carte room service delivery
- Additional lifts to improve movement around the hospital for staff, patients and visitors
- Upgraded Sterilisation Services Department (SSD)
- Increased beds from 550 to over 700 beds
- Additional two-storeys of visitor car parking on the existing multi-storey car park
- New site engineering plant
- Upgraded perioperative services
- Upgraded cardiology services
- Refurbished oncology ward
- Upgraded hospital entrance and dedicated public open spaces
- New Chapel
For more information about the redevelopment at St John of God Subiaco Hospital, please visit www.sjog.org.au/subiacoredevelopment.