Designs unveiled for the Wonthaggi Hospital expansion

The Bass Coast community is one step closer to a world-class hospital rebuild, with the new designs for the $115 million Wonthaggi Hospital project unveiled today.

Minister for Health Jenny Mikakos presented the designs, which show a bigger, better emergency department with the capacity to treat an additional 26,000 emergency patients a year, and facilities that enable more patients to receive surgery closer to home.

The redevelopment will provide three new operating theatres, a procedure room, 18 more treatment spaces in a new emergency department and a new 32-bed inpatient ward with four extra short stay beds. The improved layout creates a more efficient and safer workplace for staff.

This additional capacity reduces the need for patients to travel to other hospitals for their care and will help meet future demand in the Bass Coast Shire – one of the highest growth areas in regional Victoria, where the population is expected to grow by an extra 55 per cent by 2031.

Building works will start in early 2020, with construction complete in early 2023. The project is expected to create around 345 extra jobs.

The Wonthaggi Hospital expansion is funded by $115 million from the Victorian Government. Last year, Bass Coast Health received $1.9 million from the Regional Health Infrastructure Fund to upgrade critical infrastructure at Wonthaggi Hospital. This $350 million fund provides vital upgrades for regional and rural hospitals, ensuring Victorians can access the high-quality care and facilities they need, no matter where they live.

You can learn more about the Wonthaggi Hospital expansion via our dedicated project page.