THE WA Liberals have pledged $5.5 million to provide four dialysis chairs, chemotherapy day beds with tele-chemotherapy capabilities, and outpatient specialist rooms for Kalamunda Hospital.
Liberal leader and opposition health spokesperson Libby Mettam said the additions will enhance the hospital’s existing services and provide residents with easier access to critical care close to home.
“The dialysis unit will offer local treatment for chronic kidney disease patients, tele-chemotherapy will allow cancer patients to receive care under remote specialist supervision, while the specialist outpatient rooms will support consultations in key medical fields, reducing the need for patients to travel to Perth for routine appointments,” she said.
Three million dollars was also pledged to allow community pharmacies across the state to dispense specialist medications, which currently only qualify for a discount if they are dispensed through a hospital pharmacy.
Ms Mettam said the increasing complexity of medicines has seen a corresponding increase in the number of medicines that can only be accessed by patients at an affordable price through a hospital pharmacy.
“This initiative will allow community pharmacists to expand their practice to include dispensing hospital prescriptions at the PBS discount price and charging the prescribing hospitals for the service,” she said.
“It will mean that our hospital pharmacies can focus on critical clinical activities and preparing discharge medications, improving discharge times.”
Liberal candidate for Kalamunda Adam Hort said the promised new services at Kalamunda Hospital would have a significant community impact.
“Beyond health benefits, the hospital expansion will stimulate the local economy by creating jobs, increasing activity in Kalamunda’s town centre, and supporting local businesses through increased foot traffic,” he said.
“This proposal represents a transformative opportunity to strengthen healthcare access and community well-being in Kalamunda.
“As a former heart transplant pharmacist and the chief pharmacist for Australia’s largest country health service, I understand the impact that the tyranny of distance can have on access to care and health outcomes.”
