Hospitals 18 November 2024

University Hospital Geelong Kids' ED now complete

We’ve completed the main works on the $20 million University Hospital Geelong’s new dedicated children’s emergency department.

This will give families across the Barwon region improved access to world-class emergency care, close to home.

For the project’s final stage, we completed new clinical areas and the reconstructed main drop off point for the emergency department.

Accessible transcript

[Text on screen: The new $20 million kids’ emergency department at University Hospital Geelong is complete]

[Images: View upwards to sign ‘Children’s Emergency’, followed by entrance to the ED]

[Text on screen: Take a look inside]

[Images: Leaf design detail on roof of waiting area]

[Text on screen: The new ED has been designed to provide a dedicated and calming space for families]

[Images: view of the ED waiting room, including large central ‘tree-like’ structure]

[Text on screen: There are 28 treatment spaces, including two fast-track and eight short-stay beds]

[Images: view down corridor with treatment bays either side, look inside a treatment bay]

[Text on screen: New treatment rooms and support spaces]

[Images: a nurse enters data on a screen outside two treatment bays; another view inside a treatment bay]

[Text on screen: and a separate paediatric triage system and waiting area]

[Images: views of paediatric triage space and waiting area]

[Text on screen: Families will now have improved access to world-class emergency care, close to home]

[Images: Lighted sign ‘Danger X-rays on’; x-ray room; patient bed with fold out seat/bed for carer alongside]

[Images: Slide with ‘In partnership with Barwon Health (logo)]

[Images: A sliding transition screen then displays the Victorian Health Building Authority and Victoria State Government logos and the url vhba.vic.gov.au]

End of transcript.

Purpose-built for families

Hospitals can often be a daunting place for children. The new emergency department has been designed to provide a dedicated and welcoming space for families.

The new ED has calming, muted tones and décor.

It features:

28 extra dedicated treatment spaces, including two fast-track and eight short-stay beds
new treatment rooms
support spaces
a separate paediatric triage system and waiting area.

Importantly, the new facility will meet rising demand for emergency care in the region.

About the University Hospital Geelong children’s emergency department

We delivered the new Kids’ ED in partnership with Barwon Health and builder Kane Constructions. The project created and sustained around 60 jobs at the peak of construction.

Completion of the project builds on the more than $500 million investment in the Victorian Budget 2022/23 for the flagship Barwon Women’s and Children’s Hospital.

The new Barwon Women’s and Children’s will integrate with existing University Hospital Geelong services. It will provide extra capacity to meet increasing demand in the Barwon southwest region. The new facilities will provide more birthing suites, extra maternity inpatient beds, more paediatric inpatient beds and additional special care nursery cots.

Learn more about the University Hospital Geelong children’s emergency department.