Royal Perth Hospital will be the centrepiece of a new East Metropolitan Health Service being created by the State Government.

Perth’s health services are currently divided into north and south metro regions, with separate services for child and adolescent health, and country health services.

The Government said the new East Metropolitan Health Service will also include the new St John of God Midland Public Hospital, and hospitals in Bentley, Kalamunda and Armadale.

In a statement, Health Minister Kim Hames said the new service would help meet the increasing demand for services from expanding suburbs like Ellenbrook, Forrestfield and Canning Vale.

“With Royal Perth Hospital part of the East Metropolitan Health Service, Perth’s eastern suburbs will have a service which covers every health need resulting in better managed coordination and integration of clinical services, ensuring more efficient service delivery and budgeting between the hospitals,” the statement said.

“The advantage for clinical staff and patients is a coordinated approach to the delivery of health services.”

The Government is also changing the way the health services themselves are led, establishing interim Health Service Boards to oversee each health service.

Professor Bryant Stokes and Dr Neale Fong are among the new appointments to chair two of the interim boards.

Both formerly held the position of Director General of Health.

The new arrangements will start from July next year.

[“source-abc”]