Doctors are unhappy the ageing Royal Perth Hospital has been allocated a mere $9 million in funding next financial year, saying a plan for its future is desperately needed.
While the Australian Medical Association (WA) has welcomed some aspects of last week's state budget, president Michael Gannon said RPH would again not receive proper funding.
"What was once the flagship of health in WA is now in desperate need for a plan and for money to be provided, otherwise RPH will fall further into disrepair," Dr Gannon said.
He said he understood the tight financial position the state government was in, but if a re-elected Liberal government were to close RPH, "that would be a massive broken promise".
"Whatever decision this government or future governments make, they need to consider the proud history of Royal Perth Hospital, delivering services on or near that site for 170-odd years," Dr Gannon said.
"Being in the city, it serves a critical need for some vulnerable groups that live in and around the CBD and it remains the preferred hospital for people who live in the poorer suburbs in the south-eastern corridor and the growing eastern corridor."
After $19 million was allocated in last year's budget for critical maintenance at the hospital, Treasurer Mike Nahan said RPH would remain a tertiary facility, but the government had been advised that fixing it would cost more than knocking it down and rebuilding.
