A new six-storey building will soon rise at Royal Perth Hospital (RPH), marking a major milestone in the transformation of one of Western Australia’s most historic medical sites.
The project forms the first stage of a broader redevelopment of RPH and includes two floors dedicated to a new emergency department (ED), alongside levels that will expand the hospital’s overall capacity.
Following a recent review into the scope and delivery of the original emergency department redevelopment, the WA government confirmed the upgraded design would allow works to proceed without disrupting existing hospital services.
Located on S Block at the northern end of the hospital campus, the new building will connect to R Block to integrate with vital operations such as the intensive care unit.
Its design incorporates improved ambulance access, stronger public transport connections, and additional short-term parking to enhance emergency response and patient access.
WA Premier Roger Cook said the project represents a cornerstone of the government’s hospital investment strategy.
“The new emergency department at Royal Perth Hospital is part of my government’s historic investment in health infrastructure — the largest in the state’s history,” he said.
Cook said the redevelopment represents a major turning point for Royal Perth Hospital, strengthening services while maintaining smooth operations for patients and staff.
He added that the $1.5 billion Building Hospitals Fund will accelerate delivery of new capacity across the health system, ensuring more Western Australians can receive timely care when they need it.
The WA government has allocated $33 million for detailed project planning under the Building Hospitals Fund, which totals $1.5 billion in new funding to accelerate hospital development across the state.
Combined with earlier commitments, this brings the government’s total health infrastructure investment to a record $4.7 billion.
Deputy Premier and Treasurer Rita Saffioti said strong financial management had enabled the government to expand capacity across Western Australia’s health system.
“We’ve allocated $33 million to progress planning for a new emergency department at Royal Perth Hospital, which will deliver greater benefits for patients, from increased capacity to improved parking options and better connections to public transport,” Saffioti said.
Saffioti said she had directed the Office of Major Infrastructure Delivery to explore ways to strengthen connections around the Royal Perth Hospital site, including potential improvements to McIver Station and surrounding transport links.
Health Infrastructure Minister John Carey said the creation of the Office of Major Infrastructure Delivery (OMID) marked a fresh approach to managing large-scale health projects.
“The new emergency department at Royal Perth Hospital will deliver more clinical space, improved ambulance access, better parking, and increased inpatient capacity,” said Carey.
“This is about futureproofing our hospital for growing demand, while limiting disruption as works take place.”
Health Minister Meredith Hammat added that the redevelopment signals “an exciting new chapter for our state’s longest-serving hospital”.
Construction of the new RPH block is expected to begin in 2026, following completion of design and procurement activities, with early tender advice issued to the market this month.
