Chaos when Fremantle’s Emergency Department closes

Chaos when Fremantle’s Emergency Department closes

Fast Facts:

  • Fremantle’s Emergency Department will close on the 3rd of February 2015, the same day Fiona Stanley Hospital’s Emergency Department will open.
  • Kaleeya Hospital will close on the 2nd of December 2014.
  • Fremantle Hospital’s Emergency Department will close on 3rd of February next year, the same day Fiona Stanley Hospital’s Emergency Department will open.

A government memo says Fiona Stanley Hospital will open its Emergency Department at 7am on the 3rd of February at the same time as Fremantle Hospital’s Emergency Department closes.

On this day, patients in the Fremantle Hospital Emergency Department will be continually transferred to Fiona Stanley Hospital, admitted to Fremantle Hospital or discharged throughout the day.

The memo says Fremantle Hospital will be an ’empty space’ by the day’s end. This transition for patients in Fremantle and the southern suburbs will be chaotic.

Remodelling of the Emergency Department space will commence shortly after and Fremantle Hospital will transition from a 450 bed tertiary hospital to a 300 bed specialist hospital.

“I believe there is a strong argument for an Emergency facility to be retained at Fremantle Hospital,” State Member for Fremantle Simone McGurk said.

“WA Labor went to the last state election committing to retain an emergency facility at Fremantle Hospital,” Ms McGurk said.

“A lot of the community don’t realise Fremantle is losing this crucial service. We are in the centre of an entertainment precinct and to a working port. An emergency medical facility is essential.

On 17 November 2014, Kaleeya Hospital will begin transferring its services to Fiona Stanley and Fremantle Hospitals.

Kaleeya’s 24 bed ward will close in November this year and on 2 December 2014, all maternity; neonates and gynaecological services will close.

The care arrangements in place for pregnant women who are currently under care at Kaleeya are unclear.