The State Government’s decision to shift the new $1.8 billion women’s and baby’s hospital from Nedlands to Murdoch will increase the risk of death and disability for the state’s most at-risk newborns, according to neonatal experts.

Former head of King Edward and Princess Margaret Hospitals’ neonatal intensive care units Professor Karen Simmer told Gary Adshead on 6PR Mornings the extra distance newborns will have to be transported to emergency care could endanger them.

“Transporting critically sick infants does increase the risks of things going wrong and unfortunately for this very vulnerable population, that includes death or damage to their brain,” Professor Simmer said.

“It’s totally amazing that with all the wealth of expertise we have at King Edward and the children’s hospital that none of these people were involved in this radical change of decision.”

Press PLAY to hear more about the issues potentially facing the new maternity hospital

Image: University of Western Australia