More patients in the West will soon get the care and surgeries they need faster with construction now underway on the Andrews Labor Government’s $85 million redevelopment of Werribee Mercy Hospital.
Minister for Health Jill Hennessy and Member for Werribee Tim Pallas today marked the start of works on the hospital expansion for one of Melbourne’s fastest growing suburbs.
The project will see four more levels built on top of the existing Catherine McAuley Centre. When complete, it will deliver an extra 64 inpatient beds, which includes eight new critical care beds, as well as six new operating theatres so doctors and nurses can treat more patients than ever before, closer to home.
With more theatres and beds, waiting times for emergency care and elective surgery will be reduced and patients will get the treatment they need sooner, recover quicker and enjoy better health outcomes.
In a further boost, the hospital will also get a new 370-space multi-level car park.
This huge expansion – taking the total number of beds to 298 – will meet the rapidly growing demand from the Wyndham community that is predicted to increase by another 193,000 people between 2011 and 2031.
During construction, the project will create nearly 300 jobs, and is expected to be complete by mid-2018.
The Government also announced a further $19 million to improve, expand, and better coordinate mental health services in Melbourne’s West.
The funding to be rolled out over five years to address critical demand pressures will enable Mercy Health via the Werribee Hospital to manage immediate emergency department demand providing more timely access to specialist care for mental health consumers in the west.
Mercy Health Mental Health Services will also provide patients with more intensive support once they leave hospital to help them to live well in the community. The funding will also deliver timely access, assessment and treatment in all emergency departments in the western growth corridor.
Quote attributable to Minister for Health Jill Hennessy
“We know we need to invest now to keep pace with the soaring demand for health care in Wyndham. That’s why we’re getting on with building for the future so more patients in the West can get the care they need, when they need it.”
Quote attributable to Minister for Mental Health Martin Foley
"This additional funding will mean people in the West experiencing mental health issues can get out of the emergency department and into a mental health inpatient unit sooner."
Quote attributable to Member for Werribee Tim Pallas
“We’re putting patients in Werribee first by boosting access to the safest and highest quality critical care services and elective surgeries for this booming population. The extra capacity at Werribee Mercy will also take pressure off other busy hospitals in the western suburbs.”
Reviewed 19 August 2020