News
Celebrating 30 years at Peel Health Campus
Dec 21, 2018
Peel Health Campus (PHC) has little resemblance to the 32-bed hospital it was when it first opened its doors as the Mandurah District Hospital in 1988.
This month marks the 30th anniversary since the small community hospital opened with a four bay GP-led Emergency Department (ED), one birth suite, one operating theatre, 26 medical/surgical and six geriatric assessment beds.
The original hospital had just 50 employees and was a far cry from today's 206 bed general hospital on the same site.
Peel Health Campus, as it became known in 1996, is now staffed by some 700 employees and has four operating theatres, one endoscopy suite, three delivery rooms, 12 chemotherapy/haematology chairs, 33 beds in day surgery/gastroenterology unit and an Emergency Department (ED) with 30 treatment bays.
At the time, the new hospital, along with the Murray District Hospital, Mandurah Community Health and Development Centre and the Dwellingup Nursing Post formed the Murray - Mandurah Health Service.
The inaugural Administrator of the Murray Mandurah Health Service, Don Pember, is the Chair of the hospital’s Community Board of Advice to this day, a position he has held for 27 years.
“I have witnessed many changes in the 30 years,” he said.
“When the ED originally opened, local General Practitioners were running the service and we were treating around 7,000 patients a year.
“Opening the ED was a significant milestone and meant a much improved service for the local community.”
Mr Pember said that up until that stage all emergencies were treated by the Silver Chain Nursing Service in Ormsby Terrace with backup support from local General Practitioners.
“In 2018 our ED treated about 43,000 patients. The 30 bay unit is led by a highly professional and dedicated team of emergency doctors, nurses and support staff,” Mr Pember said.
“This year the ED at Peel will undergo an overhaul improving care, which will improve patient flow, enhance privacy and create a more comfortable environment for patients.
“There have been many other enhancements to our health service over the years.
“Back when the hospital first opened, frozen meals were transferred from Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital and bed linen was brought over from the nearby 84 bed Pinjarra Hospital.
“It was a different era and I think as our hospital grows with the community we can expect to see many more significant changes."
Mr Pember said he was delighted when Ramsay Health Care took over the management of PHC in June 2013.
“Ramsay Health Care brings all the benefits of being a large and well respected health care provider, including educational and career opportunities for the staff.
“The hospital’s leadership team is proactive, approachable and focused on the provision of high quality care and service to this community.
It is a great joy to chair the Community Board of Advice.”