WA establishes $50m older hospitals maintenance fund
To prioritise maintenance at Western Australian older hospitals, the WA Government has established a $50 million Health Asset Maintenance Fund. The dedicated fund — to roll out across 2025–26 and 2026–27 — will focus on projects at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital (SCGH), Royal Perth Hospital (RPH) and Armadale Health Service, and is in addition to the state’s existing $271 million 2025–26 hospital maintenance budget.
Maintenance fund
“We know we have some aging infrastructure that needs careful management, and we're listening to the concerns of workers,” WA Premier Roger Cook said. “This extra money — in addition to the $271 million we already have budgeted for hospital maintenance this year — will see us prioritise repairs and maintenance at our older hospitals.
Existing funding for health service providers for minor repairs and upkeep and the minor building and works program will continue, the state government advised, with a team from the Department of Housing and Works to be engaged to work with the Department of Health to deliver projects for the hospital maintenance blitz.
“We are already investing around $113 million in specific upgrades at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital and this maintenance blitz is on top of these works and existing maintenance spending,” WA Health Infrastructure Minister John Carey explained. “It will also fund a range of maintenance works at Royal Perth Hospital and Armadale Health Service, as we continue to invest in our aging hospitals.
“This additional investment comes as we progress a redevelopment of the RPH emergency department and upgrade the ED and ICU at SCGH.”
Audit and review
Cook added: “In addition, my government will conduct an audit to assess how hospital infrastructure is maintained by various Health Service Providers — to see if any improvements can be made to processes and ensure funding is spent effectively in areas of most need.”
The ‘snap’ audit and review will facilitate improved procurement and contract management practices and bolster hospital maintenance into the future, the government said.
Former Under Treasurer Michael Barnes and former Department of Health Director General Neale Fong will undertake the review, which will be jointly overseen by the Department of Premier and Cabinet, the Department of Treasury and Finance, and the Department of Health.
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