By JESSE GRAHAM
THE VICTORIAN Government has increased the funding for Healesville Hospital’s redevelopment by $1 million to fill a funding shortfall, following an announcement earlier today.
Health Minister Jill Hennessy announced on Wednesday 24 June that an extra $1 million in funding would be added to the $7.8 million currently allocated for the hospital’s redevelopment.
She said the money would ensure the redeveloped hospital “features first class design and materials”, after the final tenders for the project revealed the $7.8 million allocated to the redevelopment was not enough to deliver the whole project.
The $7.8 million funding for the redevelopment was announced under the previous Coalition government in September 2013, by then-Health Minister David Davis.
Ms Hennessy said that the funding recognised that the “ageing community hospital” was in need of a “significant revamp and expansion to meet growing community needs”.
Eastern Health Chief Executive, Alan Lilly, said that he welcomed the government’s funding commitment.
“This is a very exciting time for our Healesville site,” he said.
“We will be creating a wonderful new environment for our staff and patients and delivering more services than ever before.
Mr Lilly said that patients who would be treated at the Healesville Hospital will receive their care at Yarra Ranges Health in Lilydale or Maroondah Hospital during the redevelopment.
Yarra Valley Community Health and the Yarra Valley Community Medical Service at the hospital will continue to run, but Mr Lilly said some services may be provided from different locations in town.
Pathology, respiratory, cardiology, endocrinology and antenatal and postnatal maternity services will stay in Healesville during the redevelopment.
Builders are expected to be appointed for the redevelopment by July, with construction on the hospital to begin in August.
Services are expected to be relocated by Monday, 28 September, and the construction is expected to take between 14-18 months.
A six-chair renal dialysis clinic, 13-bed acute general medical ward and new operating theatre are some features of the redevelopment.
The Save the Healesville Hospital Action Group (SHHAG), however, has criticised the redevelopment for not featuring birthing services, which were cut from the hospital in 2012.
For the full story, see next week’s Mail.
