Hospital on track

State Premier Daniel Andrews made a surprise visit to Wonthaggi Hospital last Friday with Member for Bass Jordan Crugnale.
The Premier had a quick tour of the new $115m hospital, witnessing the 200 plus workers who are building the new Emergency Department, four theatre operating suites, the Recovery and Central Sterilising area, a 32-bed combined Surgical and Paediatric ward and the new Radiology precinct.
It is expected the hospital will have the capacity to treat 26,000 extra emergency patients every year.
The Wonthaggi Hospital expansion is due to be handed over to BCH in November this year to facilitate commissioning of areas before Christmas, with the total project to be completed early 2023.
BCH is also expanding its workforce with a significant recruitment agenda underway.
According to BCH, over the past five years, the state-funded contribution to BCH grew from $42 million in 2016/17 to $77 million in 2021/22, with a large proportion going towards expanding the workforce.
Staff numbers have grown from 700 in 2016, to more than 1000 currently, and over the coming two years with more growth and more services, BCH expects staff numbers to grow by a further 100 or more.
“It has taken years of planning, excellent commitment by the community members and staff who contributed to the design, the Victorian Health Building Authority, Kane Construction, and the vast array of expert consultants working with our own facilities team,” BCH CEO Jan Child said.
Jordan Crugnale MP added that it has been a great partnership working with Ms Child to get additional funding to ‘Pandemic Proof’ the new building, with new design features being incorporated based on the learnings across the sector over the past two years.
This includes significant changes to the ventilation systems to reduce any risk of cross infection with airborne viruses.
“We have been fortunate to make these changes during construction rather than retro fit at a later date and we are extremely proud that this massive expansion to our Hospital will see our local and visitor community benefit from a first-class building, where they can continue to receive our first-class service,” added Ms Crugnale.
“Friday was a wonderful opportunity for the Premier and I to meet with many Doctors, Nurses, Allied Health, Cleaners, Porters, Administrative staff from all areas including Emergency, Dental, Integrated Cancer Care, Maternity and Inpatient areas.
“Staff spoke of their personal experiences and the Premier acknowledged their quality of care, dedication, professionalism and fatigue and how the stress on the system had personally impacted staff and their families.”