Wangaratta Hospital will be better suited to cope with the region’s needs thanks to a multi-million dollar investment from the Victorian Government.
Two stages of the $23 million redevelopment are now complete.
Health Minister Mary-Anne Thomas officially opened the new Short Stay Unit and Intensive Care Unit on Thursday, July 15.
“Our healthcare staff do an outstanding job,” Ms Thomas said.
“And a bigger and better Wangaratta Hospital will ensure that they have access to the best facilities and can continue to provide the best care to the community.”
The new eight-bed Short Stay Unit provides acute care for patients who are expected to stay for less than 24 hours.
To take care of the region’s sickest patients, the redevelopment has also delivered a new 12-bed Intensive Care Unit equipped with the latest technology.
To meet future demand and ensure shorter waiting times for patients needing urgent care, the next stage of the redevelopment to deliver an upgraded emergency department with additional treatment spaces, as well as an isolation room and behavioural assessment room, is under way.
The project will also add a new paediatric ward and 11 additional medical beds to create two 20-bed inpatient units.
Construction is progressing well, with concrete poured for the expanded emergency department and wall framing for the paediatric and medical wards now complete.
The project is being delivered by Northeast Health Wangaratta in partnership with the Victorian Health Building Authority and local builder Zauner Construction.
Delivering 60 jobs during construction, the project is on track to be completed by the end of the year.
Funded through the Regional Health Infrastructure Fund, the redevelopment will ensure that more local residents can access world-class healthcare closer to home, while significantly boosting Northeast Health Wangaratta’s capacity.
The RHIF – now worth $790 million – provides government funding to rural and regional health services and agencies across Victoria so these services can continue to provide safe and efficient care to local communities.
Since the establishment of the RHIF in 2015 it has funded more than 480 projects for regional health services.
State Member for Northern Victoria Jaclyn Symes said it was the largest investment ever dedicated to rural and regional health services.
“With more space to treat patients, a bigger emergency department and a new kids ward, the redeveloped Wangaratta Hospital will be a huge asset to local families and the north-east for decades to come,” Ms Symes said.
Submissions for the latest round of the RHIF are open, and close on July 22, with more than 120 health services eligible for funding.
The program aims to deliver a variety of shovel-ready projects across regional Victoria.
This latest round will also provide funding for projects to undertake planning and design, to advance proposals to the next stage to be considered for successive grant funding rounds.