Construction of the Andrews Labor Government’s $20 million expansion of Eastern Health’s Angliss Hospital is now underway.
Minister for Health, Jill Hennessy, today joined Member for Monbulk, James Merlino, to announce Kane Constructions has started building a fourth level on top of the main Angliss Hospital building to increase the capacity of the hospital’s critical care services.
This $20 million expansion of the Angliss Hospital is a key election promise that will deliver a new Intensive Care Unit and a second short stay unit providing care for patients who require a stay of up to 24 hours.
This short stay unit will help to reduce waiting times in the hospital’s emergency department, so local patients can get the treatment and care they need, sooner.
The paediatric emergency and short stay area will be refurbished, with the number of existing paediatric short stay beds set to double. Two dedicated mental health spaces will also be included in the emergency department.
Construction is expected is be completed in 2018.
Kane Constructions have a proven track record building state-of-the-art hospital projects such as the Austin Health short stay unit, University Hospital Geelong upgrades, the St John of God Hospital redevelopment in Bendigo and the new Swan Hill District Health aged care facility.
The Labor Government’s Victorian Budget 2016/17 delivered an extra $2.45 billion for health, so hospitals can admit more patients, reduce waiting times, upgrade buildings and infrastructure and keep Victorians healthy.
This includes $817 million to build new hospitals and ambulance stations, and funding the latest advances in medical equipment so our dedicated doctors and nurses can deliver even better care.
In 2016/17, Eastern Health will receive $748.34 million in funding from the Labor Government, which is $36.21 million or 5.1 per cent more than the previous financial year. Eastern Health has also received funding for a new adult intensive care bed.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Health Jill Hennessy
“We’re proud to be delivering on our promise to expand Angliss Hospital. Today marks an important milestone with builders setting up to construct a fourth floor on top of the existing hospital.”
“The additional short-stay beds will give doctors and nurses the extra capacity needed to treat urgent care faster and save lives in the local community.”
Quotes attributable to Member for Monbulk James Merlino
“We are planning for the future to meet the growing and changing needs of our local community. This includes doubling the number of short-stay paediatric beds at Angliss Hospital.”
Reviewed 19 August 2020