New chapter for Bass Coast Health is official

PREMIER Daniel Andrews and Minister for Health Mary-Anne Thomas, accompanied by local Member for Bass Jordan Crugnale, today officially opened the new Stage One expansion and update of the Wonthaggi Hospital facility, which features more emergency department treatment spaces, inpatient beds and increased surgical capacity.

“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,” Premier Daniel Andrews stated.

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 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.

“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,” Member for Bass, Jordan Crugnale added.

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.