New Footscray Hospital Project newsletter #5 | December 2022

In a warehouse in nearby Sunshine, the New Footscray Hospital Project team and Western Health staff have been given a preview of what’s to come when the new Footscray Hospital opens its doors in 2025.

The prototype rooms which are close replicas of the key clinical spaces and facilities in the new hospital, are helping staff inform the design and layout.

The design of the rooms was informed by staff feedback from the 'mock-ups' created last year. They include consulting rooms, inpatient bedrooms, emergency department bays and an operating room.

With the prototype rooms fully fitted out, the team and Western Health staff were able to inspect and test equipment, trial the layout and furniture placement, and even experience the replica view from the in-patient rooms across the west and city skyline.

'It’s been great to hear from our staff about the spaces - their feedback is vital and will help inform the next stages of the design process,' Western Health CEO Russell Harrison said.

One of the highlight milestones achieved this year was the installation of eight massive new concrete v-columns. This marks the first visually complete component at the new Footscray Hospital and frames the front doors to the future emergency department.

These architectural, 13-metre-high concrete supports have been installed in key locations across the site.

Two v-columns installed on Geelong Road will support the 12-storey main hospital tower including the operating theatres. They will be the front door to Footscray’s new emergency department and main vehicle entry.

On Ballarat Road, four v-columns will support the sub-acute building. Two more v-columns are in place in the Village Green, a large open green space which will form the heart of the new hospital once construction is complete in 2025.

Weighing more than 90 tonnes each, the installation involved many moving parts, including transporting the huge v-column pieces from South Australia, installing the node or starter pieces, and then craning in a section at a time.

The v-columns are the showcase feature in the new hospital’s modern feel. They were designed to complement the site’s vision to be a vibrant community asset and a gateway to the city of Footscray and Melbourne’s western suburbs.

'The v-columns not only provide architectural expression at the main civic entries to the new hospital precinct, but also provide space and flexibility at the ground level.

'The feature columns are integral structural elements that support the primary operating theatres above the Geelong Road entry and act as the front door to the hospital’s new emergency department,' said COX Director, Paul Curry, joint architectural lead for the project.

Plenary Health has partnered with Western Health Foundation to increase opportunities for clinical staff through ICU nursing scholarships and important health research programs.

The partnership is worth more than $300,000 over five years and aligns with Plenary Heath’s delivery of the New Footscray Hospital Project, in partnership with the Victorian Government and Western Health.

It includes more than $100,000 towards post graduate nursing scholarships in key clinical services, research awards for Western Health staff, additional event support and other in-kind activities.

On announcing the partnership, Western Health Chief Executive Adj. Prof Russell Harrison said: 'This partnership demonstrates the strength of Plenary Health’s commitment to the communities Western Health serve – as well as the dedicated Western Health staff that make it all possible.'

Plenary Health New Footscray Hospital Project Chair Kelvyn Lavelle said Plenary Health was honoured to partner with Western Health Foundation and support its important work.

'With ICU being a huge growth area, this partnership will support nurses by providing them with more opportunities through funded scholarships, assist with important health research, and events fundraising support to deliver better health outcomes for the west.'

Pictured left to right: Western Health Executive Director of Nursing and Midwifery Shane Crowe, Plenary Health New Footscray Hospital Project Chair Kelvyn Lavelle, Western Health Chair Robyn Batten, Western Health Foundation Director Julia Harper and Western Health Chief Executive Adj. Prof Russell Harrison.

George Thoms, one of Footscray’s pioneer surgeons, was a trailblazer in medicine and sport.

Born in Footscray in 1927 and educated at Williamstown High School, he is the only obstetrician and gynaecologist to have been an Australian test cricketer. He played one Test match for Australia in 1952 in the fifth Test against the West Indies at the Sydney Cricket Ground.

The eminent surgeon also introduced the concept of laser surgery to Australia in the mid-70s.

Congratulations to the winners from this year’s Victoria University’s Picturing Footscray photography prize.

The competition was held at the Footscray Connectivity Centre from 13 October to 11 November 2022.

The $3,000 first prize was sponsored by Plenary Health and presented to Jessica DuPlessis’s winning work ‘Always Was Always Will Be Land of the Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung and the Bunurong peoples of the Kulin Nation’.

Multiplex were sponsors of the People’s Choice Award ‘Now and then’ by Manon Keown.

Contact the project hotline at (03) 9999 1985 or email nfhenquiry@health.vic.gov.au.

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Partnerships

This project is being delivered by the Victorian Health Building Authority in partnership with Western Health, and the Plenary Health consortium.