The Andrews Labor Government is giving Ballarat families better, safer, faster health care and delivering safe, modern facilities for our health workers.
Premier Daniel Andrews today met with doctors, nurses and paramedics at Ballarat Base Hospital to mark the Labor Government’s major $461.6 million redevelopment to give locals the world class health service they need.
As part of the Labor Government’s major redevelopment of Ballarat’s much-loved hospital, the Emergency Department will be completely rebuilt, giving our doctors and nurses the modern facilities they need to save lives.
The Emergency Department rebuild will boost safety for health professionals working on the frontline in an often challenging and stressful environment, and enable 18,000 extra emergency patients to be treated each year.
This follows the Labor Government’s announcement that anyone who attacks and injures an emergency worker will receive a custodial sentence, with a plan to toughen statutory minimum prison sentencing laws and further limiting the use of community corrections orders.
The hospital redevelopment will also feature new operating theatres with the latest cutting-edge equipment, an acute mental health facility, an ICU and at least 100 extra inpatient beds – with the hospital able to treat an extra 14,500 inpatients every year. This historic investment will also see the creation of 1,384 construction jobs.
This builds on our record investment in health care across Western Victoria, which includes a state-of-the-art new ambulance station being built at Wendouree, and branch upgrades at Ararat and St Arnaud, ensuring regional communities faster treatment and giving paramedics the facilities they deserve.
Hospitals such as at Ararat, Stawell and Maryborough are also getting upgrades thanks to the Labor Government.
While the Liberals cut $1 billion from our health system and failed to plan for growth, the Labor Government is making the right investments to make sure every Victorian patient can get the care they need.
That’s in stark contrast to Malcolm Turnbull and his dud hospitals funding deal, which would short-change Victorians to the tune of $2.1 billion over five years. His dud deal means $53.5 million less for Ballarat Health Services – the equivalent of 8,613 elective surgeries, 428 nurses or 179 doctors.
Quote attributable to Premier Daniel Andrews
“We’re building a brand new Ballarat Base Hospital and giving our hard-working paramedics the best facilities so that they can give Ballarat locals the world-class care they deserve.”
Quote attributable to Member for Buninyong Geoff Howard
“Our paramedics do a superb job protecting us. We’re taking action to keep them safe, and to give them the facilities they deserve.”
Quote attributable to Member for Wendouree Sharon Knight
“A bigger and better Ballarat Base Hospital will help ensure our hard-working doctors and nurses can provide the treatment and care when patients need it.”
Reviewed 19 August 2020