The Andrews Labor Government is delivering world-class healthcare for Bass Coast families with the completion of the $115 million Stage One expansion and upgrade of Wonthaggi Hospital – creating hundreds of local jobs during construction and more jobs for healthcare workers at the expanded hospital.
Premier Daniel Andrews and Minister for Health Mary-Anne Thomas today officially opened the new facility, which features more emergency department treatment spaces, inpatient beds and increased surgical capacity.
The project includes 32 new inpatient beds and 18 additional emergency department treatment spaces, which will treat an extra 26,000 emergency patients a year. The hospital’s surgery capacity has also doubled – with three new theatres and a procedure room, as well as additional car parking and a new central energy plant.
Bass Coast Health is also making sure locals are getting care in the right place, with the Better at Home program getting more patients provided with hospital-level care from doctors and nurses in their own homes than ever before.
In 2021-22, Bass Coast Health provided 1,846 days of care to patients recovering at home – and across Gippsland more broadly, 14,466 bed days were provided at home.
Programs like Better at Home are part of the Labor Government’s work to protect our health system and save emergency departments for just that – emergencies.
Through initiatives like Better at Home, the Virtual Emergency Department and Priority Primary Care Clinics, the Government is making sure every Victorian can get free, fast care close to home when they need it – but too many people still can’t access – or afford – a GP when they need one, putting increasing pressure on our hospital system.
There is no higher priority than the reform of Australia’s primary care system, and Victoria will join the Commonwealth and other jurisdictions at this week’s National Cabinet meeting to find nationwide solutions to the issue of primary case.
Since 2014, the Labor Government has invested more than $133 billion in Victoria’s health system.
But there’s still more to do – that’s why we’ll deliver an up to $290 million second stage of works at Wonthaggi Hospital, which will deliver two new wards, a new labour and delivery complex, and a new outpatient clinic with around 25 treatment spaces.
As stated by Premier Daniel Andrews
“As one of the fastest growing areas in regional Victoria, the Bass Coast Shire needs world-class health services to match – and this major expansion and upgrade of Wonthaggi Hospital has delivered just that.”
“We’re making sure Bass Coast families have the world-class emergency care they need, close to home – but we’re also working to prioritise the reform of Australia’s broken primary care system to get people the most appropriate care, as soon as they need it.”
As stated by Minister for Health Mary-Anne Thomas
“We’re making sure the dedicated doctors, nurses and support staff at Wonthaggi Hospital have access to the best facilities to support them in their vital and life-saving work.”
As stated by Member for Bass Jordan Crugnale
“Every Victorian deserves quality care, close to home and our expanded Wonthaggi Hospital with its new ED, theatres and more beds means even better services for our local area, visitor communities and hospital staff.”
