State-of-the-art operating theatres open at Northam Health Campus

• Two fully integrated operating theatres featuring state-of-the-art technology now operational at Northam Health Campus
• $42 million hospital refurbishment part of biggest transformation of country hospitals and health services in more than a generation
• Improved, modern facilities bring world-class care closer to home for Wheatbelt residents 

Northam Health Campus has officially opened two new fully integrated operating theatres featuring state-of-the-art technology as part of the hospital's $42 million redevelopment.

The refurbishment is part of the biggest transformation of country hospitals and health services in more than a generation.

The improved, modern facilities enable the Wheatbelt community access to high-quality healthcare closer to home.

The WA Country Health Service’s (WACHS) Chief Operating Officer Margaret Denton said the contemporary facilities were an exciting improvement for the local community.

“Northam Health Campus has increased its operating theatre capacity from one to two theatres as well as a refurbished recovery suite and a central sterile services department fitted with high-tech equipment,” Ms Denton said.

“Our clinicians have already performed multiple procedures in the theatres in line with the staged approach to the recommencement of elective surgeries following a temporary reduction as part of WA Health's COVID-19 response.

“The improved, modern facilities enable the Wheatbelt community access to high-quality health care closer to home, including the capacity to undertake more surgical procedures in the future.”

While essential roofing work took place at the theatre, WACHS temporarily relocated some surgical procedures to Narrogin to ensure patients didn’t face unnecessary delays to elective surgery.

“Ensuring patient safety and continuity of care throughout the unavoidable construction work was very important to us.

“That’s why we coordinated and financed the relocation of elective surgeries, allowing patients to continue receiving care close to home and within the Wheatbelt.

“We’d like to thank our patients, the local community and our staff for their patience throughout this time - we acknowledge that any redevelopment of this size and magnitude can result in disruption but in the case of Northam, it was some short term pain for long term gain.”

WACHS has invested more than $200 million in hospital and health redevelopments in the Wheatbelt since 2015.