John Carey admits he wants more money to fix Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital after state of disrepair exposed

John Carey has finally admitted that he wants more money to fix the ailing Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital following revelations it has crumbled into a state of disrepair. The admission came days after The West Australian first exposed secret documents revealed staff had reported an array of problems at the ageing facility, including leaks, mould and that legionnaires’ bacteria had been detected in above acceptable levels in the water. The Health Infrastructure Minister said that he expected more funding would be allocated but would not say how much he had asked for — or whether previous requests had been refused. “We are spending currently at Charlies on upgrades, maintenance and equipment, it’s around $113 million,” Mr Carey said outside State Parliament on Thursday. “I do anticipate that we will be making more investment in Charlies with that ageing infrastructure . . . I will, look, as a minister, every minister and every portfolio advocates for more funding.” Mr Carey would not commit to any fast-tracked funding before the Budget’s usual mid-year review in December. “Respectfully, I’m not going into any internal processes relating to budgeting,” he said. “I point to the fact that we’ve already made decisions that’s seeing around $113 million invested in Charlies.” Cabinet secretary Daniel Pastorelli, who was previously Premier Roger Cook’s chief of staff, insisted when asked about hundreds of leaks and claims of black mould that the $100 million spent was enough. One nurse even said she has seen mushrooms growing out of the ceiling. Mr Pastorelli is in charge of Labor’s community consultation process for the Burswood race track and amphitheatre, which the Opposition wants scrapped to free up $217 million for hospital repairs. Outside Parliament on Thursday, Mr Pastorelli said the Burswood project was an election promise. “The Premier is very committed to delivering election commitments and that’s what we’ll be doing,” he said. Mr Pastorelli agreed that maintaining WA’s hospitals to standard was also an election commitment. “That’s exactly right and that’s what the Government is doing as well,” he said. “The Government’s committed a bit more than $100 million on a range of maintenance funding for Charlies hospital and that’s been delivered.” Pressed on whether it had been enough, Mr Pastorelli said: “I think it has.” Treasurer Rita Saffioti appeared to blame the Health Department for maintenance shortfalls, questioning a whistleblower’s claims that management was unable to sign off on critical but costly works. “They request funding in the Budget submissions annually,” the staff member said. “Only our top five requests are funded. Imagine that, only five issues across all of NMHS hospitals are funded. “Things like critical infrastructure works, fire-related building risks, air-conditioning systems, water quality. “So things keep failing because large funding amounts are not provided to replace the 40-year-old infrastructure.” Ms Saffioti said those decisions were not for her to make. “We set a budget each year, we allocate those budgets to the departments,” she said. “The departments make those operational decisions. We’re not signing off on individual maintenance items.” Ms Saffioti accused the Opposition of lying over claims the maintenance budget had been cut. “They weren’t comparing like with like,” she said. “Total health maintenance expenditure in 2017-18 was $180 million, now it’s $240 million. “We understand that both Charlies and Royal Perth, in particular, are ageing hospitals. We understand that and that’s why we’re injecting so much.” Ms Saffioti would not say whether more money has been requested by Mr Carey or Health Minister Meredith Hammat. “There’s always huge demand,” she said. “Every agency across every budget will always have new spending measures. “We have got more money in the system, there’s more money today than there was yesterday. But we want to make sure that it’s spent effectively.”