Premier

Better hospitals mean better care for Victorians

02 May 2017

The Andrews Labor Government will keep building and investing in better hospitals to give the best possible care to Victorians.

The Victorian Budget 2017/18 will invest $428.5 million in new hospital upgrades and equipment to give our hardworking doctors and nurses the world-class facilities they deserve.

At the centre is $162.7 million to expand the Northern Hospital to meet the health care needs of Melbourne’s rapidly growing outer northern suburbs.

The expansion will see the completion of a seven-storey tower that includes 96 new inpatient beds, 3 new operating theatres and more treatment rooms. Looking to the future, the project will also include space for the expansion of cardiology services, cath labs and medical imaging.

The Budget also commits to building a new Footscray Hospital, with $50 million to develop a business case and commence design work for the construction of the new hospital, including identifying options for purchase of a suitable site nearby, if required.

Planning and design will begin on the future redevelopment and expansion of Warrnambool Hospital with $7.5 million to support this work and cater for the growing demand for health services in South West Victoria.

Our sickest kids will get the emergency care they need sooner, with $63.2 million to expand the Monash Medical Centre emergency department. An exclusive area for kids means our youngest patients can be treated in a calm environment that respects their privacy.

The Royal Melbourne Hospital will also benefit from a $40 million cash injection to upgrade key infrastructure across two sites, while planning continues on the next steps for the Parkville Biomedical Precinct.

Austin Health will also undertake a $29.8 million critical infrastructure works project, to make sure patients in Melbourne’s north east continue to receive the best care, close to home.

To ensure our doctors and nurses have the modern facilities and equipment they need to save lives, $60 million will go towards new medical equipment and replacing ageing infrastructure in health services across the state.

A dedicated $11.9 million will also help protect hospitals from cyber-attacks, by investing in preventative cybersecurity technology and tools to detect suspicious activity.

And our sickest patients and babies will benefit from a $2.2 million boost to open 11 new intensive care and neonatal intensive care beds in health services across Victoria.

Quotes attributable to the Minister for Health Jill Hennessy

“These investments will mean better hospitals, better equipment and better, faster care for Victorians.”

“We’re expanding the Northern Hospital so families know that they can rely on first-class care, close to home.”

“After years of being ignored by the former Liberal Government, we know families in Melbourne’s west need and deserve a new Footscray Hospital – and this Budget delivers the funding needed to kick-start this critical project.”

Reviewed 19 August 2020

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