Patients use caravans in hospital crisis

Accommodation for patients at Broome hospital is in crisis, with women, children and other patients forced to stay at caravan parks.

According to a local health group it is a crisis which won’t be solved quickly.

Broome Regional Hospital’s district health advisory group chairwoman Sally Winteridge said many patients needed to travel hundreds of kilometres for treatment at Broome, whether from remote communities or stations, and therefore needed to stay in Broome while being treated.

But pre and post-care patients can no longer be housed in local hotels and motels after they refused to accept block bookings by the hospital.

The only option left for patients’ accommodation, whatever their condition – from children who have had their tonsils out to mothers with newborn babies, or even car crash victims – is caravan parks, where they have to walk to ablution blocks.

“In the Eastern States there are regional hospitals all the way down the coast – whereas from Broome to Perth, people travel for days and often have to stay in the town where they are being treated,” she said.

“The hospital is not responsible for accommodation, but it has had to do something because it’s too hard for patients to find somewhere to stay, especially during Broome’s peak tourist season.”

Ms Winteridge said the problem was compounded by the rebuilding of the children’s paediatric ward and building of the acute psychiatric unit.

This has reduced the hospital’s bed capacity.

“If anyone in Broome has suitable accommodation which could be a solution for this problem, we would be very grateful to hear about it,” Ms Winteridge said.

The Broome Advertiser understands funding from State and Federal governments is in place for hostels in Derby, Broome and Fitzroy Crossing but these will not be ready for 18 months.