Hospital offers building jobs boost

Construction of the Katanning hospital should support 700 jobs over the two years it takes to build, Health Minister John Day says.

The $32 million redevelopment contract was awarded to Victorian- based Cockram Construction.

Regional Development Minister Terry Redman said getting development right was essential to keeping people in regional towns.

“People will make decisions to move on the basis of access to health care services,” he said.

“If we want to get regional development right, we’ve got to make sure we deliver on a quality health services in a way that people can access those services in regional Western Australia.”

Construction is set to begin this month and Mr Day said the community would continue to have access to hospital services with the Katanning Health Service operational.

The redevelopment will include a new emergency department, medical imaging services, outpatient care facilities and refurbished surgical services. There will also be new sterilising facilities, laundry and a new morgue.