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Early planning begins for new Tom Price hospital

Alicia PereraPilbara News
The current Tom Price hospital, which was built in the 1960s.
Camera IconThe current Tom Price hospital, which was built in the 1960s. Credit: Pilbara News, Alicia Perera

The WA Country Health Service has entered the early stages of planning a proposed $38 million new hospital for the town of Tom Price to replace its ageing existing facility.

A portion of the vacant land bordered by East Road, Poinsettia Street and South Street has been identified by WACHS as the preferred location for a new Tom Price health service, and last month the Shire of Ashburton council gave its in-principle support to further explore the site’s suitability and undertake community consultation.

A WACHS spokeswoman confirmed the organisation had been looking into suitable sites for a new Tom Price health facility, but noted any redevelopment would be subject to fiscal approvals.

She said $5.2 million in budget forward estimates had already been allocated to the project.

In line with WACHS’ ongoing commitment to upgrading capital infrastructure across rural and regional WA, some preliminary planning around a potential redevelopment in Tom Price has occurred,” she said.

“This has included consultation with the local government authority around prospective sites and commencing the development of a business case.”

Shire of Ashburton president Kerry White said WACHS had asked the council to support further analysis into the suitability of its preferred site location.

“While there is a long process ahead in WACHS’ project of constructing a new facility, it is a positive step for the Tom Price community,” she said.

North West Central MLA Vince Catania said the existing, decades-old Tom Price Hospital was “outdated” and plans for a new facility were three years behind schedule after the McGowan Labor Government pushed back funding.

“It’s way overdue, it needs to be built in a new location and the government needs to be providing the funding,” he said.

The WACHS spokeswoman said while the existing Tom Price Hospital was an ageing facility, it continued to deliver “high quality and safe care” to the local community.

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