Mount Hospital: Premier Roger Cook say public ownership unlikely with decision on facility’s future imminent

Perth’s Mount Hospital could soon have a new owner, with the outcome of bids for Healthscope’s private health assets believed to be imminent. Despite rumours the Cook Government could be a buyer, it’s unlikely to fall into public hands. But The West Australian understands it could still play a role in the hospital’s future by possibly leasing beds to fill huge gaps in the public system. Premier Roger Cook on Wednesday poured cold water on the prospect of taking ownership of the Mounts Bay Road facility. The future of the hospital was left in limbo last year when operator Healthscope went bust. Mr Cook said the Government was looking to secure the future of the facility, but signalled that would not involved a taxpayer-funded purchase. “We’re continuing to talk with the operator and, obviously, the owner of that site because we want to make sure that we see a continuation of health care services at that site,” he said. “We don’t aspire to necessarily be the operator of that hospital, but we do want to make sure that that hospital infrastructure continues to be available for the people in Western Australia. “For us, it’s basically an ongoing discussion with the owners of the site and the current operator to ensure that that asset key is maintained as a healthcare asset.” There had been calls to bring Mount Hospital into public ownership, including from Australian Medical Association WA president Kyle Hoath. “If the Mount were to fall into another provider’s hands, that would be a real disappointment,” he said in December. “That would be a missed opportunity for WA health and for the WA Government to have that immediate impact that will help us next winter, because that’s what we need.” It would have been one of a number of hospitals brought under the public umbrella following the recent completion of an $80 million deal to purchase Mount Lawley Hospital from from St John of God, which will add another 118 beds to the system. Peel Health Campus returned to public hands in 2024. The update comes as the State Government confirmed that plans to contract five beds at South Perth Hospital for surge capacity over winter — as revealed by Health Minister Meredith Hammat in March — had ballooned into a much bigger, $76 million deal. “North Metropolitan Health Service recently underwent a procurement process for South Perth Hospital to provide up to 30 medical beds over a five-year period,” a spokeswoman told The West Australian. “South Perth Hospital previously provided 25 beds under a former agreement. The latest agreement focuses on continuity of care for medically stable patients requiring subacute and restorative care, including geriatric patients.” Meanwhile as the new Women and Babies Hospital is being built in at the Murdoch health precinct, the Opposition have called for the Cook Government to release a plan for the existing King Edward Memorial Hospital. Opposition Leader Basil Zempilas said the site should be retained as a transitional aged care facility, given the State’s critical shortage of beds. “This facility is here and ready, it will require some adaptation, but not a great deal of adaptation,” he said. “Interestingly, at a time when there are 366 elderly West Australians currently in our public health system waiting for transitional aged care beds, this is an example of what the State Government can do. “Instead of being reactive, they can be proactive, and we call on them to start the planning now to turn King Edward Memorial Hospital into a transitional aged care facility.” Mr Cook said the facility’s future use would be determined down the line.