North Metropolitan Health Service, the main provider of public health care in the Northern Suburbs of Perth, has agreed to pay South Perth Hospital $4.5 million to provide beds for public patients, including up to 20 beds for geriatric patients, over a three-month period.
The move is aimed at relieving pressure on public hospitals.
Contract details on the WA State Government’s tenders website say a rapid procurement process was required due to an “emergency situation”.
Australian Medical Association WA president Michael Page said private beds are regularly leased to public hospitals, an indication there are not enough beds in public hospitals.
Western Australia recorded its third-highest month for ambulance ramping in July, with ambulance crews spending 6,583 hours outside hospital emergency departments waiting to admit their patients.
The State's Health Minister Amber-Jade Sanderson has blamed the Federal Government for not providing enough aged care places to relieve pressure on public hospitals caused by the ageing population.
