Presented by Robert Clark MP		www.robertclark.net

$13-million upgrade for Williamstown Hospital

Health and Aged Care Minister Rob Knowles has announced a $9 million first stage of a $13 million redevelopment for Williamstown Hospital.

The Minister said the redevelopment would help address local population changes, particularly the ageing of the post-war baby boomers.

"The development of Melbourne’s hospital services also aims to respond to advances in technology to enable more same-day procedures and meet the expectation of many older Victorians that they will continue to live independently in their own homes," he said.

Williamstown Hospital’s two-stage modernisation will ensure continued general hospital services, including obstetrics, for people of the inner south-west including Williamstown, Altona, Newport and parts of Footscray and Werribee.

Stage One is being funded by the Victorian Government ($5 million), Williamstown Hospital ($3.5 million) and local fundraising ($500,000).

The first stage includes:

• An operating suite with three theatres, a same-day surgical unit and a recovery area.
• Two 30-bed wards for medical, surgical and obstetric patients, comprising single and double-bed rooms with en suite, four high-dependency beds and four birthing suites.
• A visitors’ lounge and quiet room within the obstetrics unit.
• A new radiology department, to be commissioned in August.

Stage Two will include a new 30-bed building for aged-care assessment, rehabilitation and therapy, as well as modern single and two-bed rooms with en suites, sitting and lounge space, a rehabilitation kitchen and a separate community rehab centre.

The $4-million second stage to be funded by the Victorian Government and is due to be completed by next April.

(News Release, Office of the Minister for Health and Aged Care, June 7, 1999)