Perth Children's Hospital opening date in doubt amid second legionella scare
Updated
Potentially deadly legionella bacteria has been discovered at the Perth Children's Hospital for the second time, plunging into doubt the long-delayed $1.2 billion facility's planned opening later this month.
In an email to senior staff sent on Friday, chief executive Robyn Lawrence said legionella had been detected in 45 of 100 sampled locations and steps to rectify the problem were "immediately" taken, including turning off the water supply and raising the temperature of the hot water system.
Another type of bacteria, Pseudomonas aeruginosa — which can cause serious infections in people with weak immune systems — was detected at 11 locations.
The samples were collected on April 16, just eight days after Premier Mark McGowan and Health Minister Roger Cook toured the facility and made a point of being seen drinking from fountains.
"We have decided to temporarily stop using the water supply at PCH today, which will allow us to intensively treat the water," Dr Lawrence wrote.
"Staff will be supplied with bottled water to enable this to occur and until we can confirm that the water is safe.
"Please be assured the safety of our staff and future patients remains our priority."
Staff changerooms were also closed and all shower heads were cleaned as a precaution.
Legionella bacteria was first discovered in October last year at multiple sites throughout the hospital, including a shower head, warm water outlets and a drinking fountain.
The detected levels of the Legionella bacteria are similar to those found last year.
Opening date remains 'for now'
The $1.2 billion hospital is due to begin a staged intake of patients in nine days, beginning with outpatient clinics, but that timeframe may now be pushed back.
Legionella bacteria live in lakes and streams, but can also grow in pipes and other water infrastructure.
If water containing the bacteria is inhaled, it can cause Legionnaires' disease — a severe form of pneumonia.
Dr Lawrence said the opening schedule for the hospital would remain in place for now, with authorities to reassess the situation early next week.
Australian Medical Association WA president Omar Khorshid said he was disappointed to hear of the latest discovery of legionella bacteria, but believed it would not delay the hospital's opening.
"We remain confident that following remedial action being taken by the Health Department, the planned dates for the treating of outpatients and the formal opening of the new hospital will still be met," Dr Khorshid said.
"We have also been reassured by the CEO of the PCH that this is not an unusual situation in new buildings when water is sometimes stagnant for long periods."
Litany of problems
The discovery of the two bacteria — both of which can cause serious illness in immunocompromised people — is a major blow for the hospital, given the proximity to its opening and the litany of past problems that have delayed the project by almost three years.
These include the discovery of asbestos in the roof panels, contractor disputes and faulty water piping.
The main issue that prevented the hospital opening was lead contamination in the drinking water, which was finally resolved in March.
The basement of the hospital has been flooded by a burst pipe, 900 fire doors have had to be ripped out and replaced, and key members of the hospital's leadership team have resigned.
It has cost taxpayers $6 million a month to sit idle with no patients — that includes about $6,000 a day in power bills and $700,000 a month to contractor Capella Parking for car bays that are sitting idle.
There have also been a raft of other construction issues at the hospital, including problems at the on-site childcare facility, mental health unit, isolation rooms and with anaesthetic gas delivery.
Nearly three years of delays to the opening have cost the state more than $115 million.
That includes more than $20 million in compensation payments for the operators of the empty hospital car park.
Topics: healthcare-facilities, government-and-politics, perth-6000, nedlands-6009
First posted
