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Forty-eight new private hospital beds in the heart of Perth have sat dormant for more than six months because of non-compliant fire safety systems.
The Mount Hospital’s $35 million redevelopment, which included the new 35-bed Karri ward and the 13-bay day of surgery admission area, was completed in May.
Mount Hospital on Mount Street, Perth.
However the hospital has failed to secure the Department of Health go-ahead to use them, because of issues uncovered with fire safety systems.
The Mount, owned by the under-administration private hospital operator Healthscope, confirmed to this masthead it did not expect to open the ward until next year.
The opposition raised concerns that the hospital at the base of Mount Eliza was being treated unfairly by the department’s Licensing and Accreditation Regulatory Unit – which grants permission for private hospitals to operate.
The department, however, says it is looking out for patient safety.
A department spokesman said the LARU found non-compliant mechanical and fire safety systems during an assessment of the Karri ward and the new day of surgery unit.
“Allowing additional patients to occupy the building, prior to rectification works being completed, would cause risk to patients, staff, and visitors, in the event of a fire,” he said.
“LARU continue to work with the Mount Hospital, through the building approval process to achieve compliant mechanical and fire safety systems.”
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The issue comes at a time when the health system is on its knees, with the Australian Medical Association of WA consistently saying the only solution to the state’s record ramping levels at public hospitals is new beds.
Ramping reached 7274 hours in September but dropped to 4429 hours in October – its second-lowest level this year.
Shadow health minister Libby Mettam recently wrote to the government urging it to revisit the Mount’s licence.
“The lack of clear communication, responsiveness, and flexibility from LARU is not only impacting patient outcomes and hospital operations—it raises questions about governance and accountability within the unit itself,” she said in her letter.
“While strong regulatory oversight is essential to maintaining high standards in health care, this must be balanced by timely decision-making, equitable application of standards, and respect for the practical challenges facing healthcare providers — particularly at a time when the private hospital sector is already under significant strain.”
Healthscope first announced the $35 million redevelopment of the hospital in August 2023 with a press release at the time suggesting the project would be complete in the first half of 2024.
Works began in April 2024 and were unveiled on May 7 this year.
At the unveiling in May the Mount’s director of nursing Donna Speedie told 7 News the hospital had stayed open over the two-year development, dealing with noise pollution and reduced bed capacity.
“It’s probably the least amount of inpatient beds we’ve had,” she said.
Healthscope collapsed in May, succumbing to debts of around $1.6 billion.
The delayed opening of the Mount will place further pressure on the hospital.
A spokesman for Healthscope did not answer questions about the fire safety systems but said it was in the final stages of commissioning the new facilities.
”The new ward at Mount Private Hospital is in the final stages of commissioning with the regulator, and we expect the ward to open in 2026,” he said.
“Mount Hospital continues to operate as normal, delivering outstanding patient care for the community.”
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