Main construction is now complete on the largest ever health infrastructure project in southeast Melbourne’s history, with the $1.1 billion Frankston Hospital redevelopment set to open on 20 January.
Victorian Minister for Health Infrastructure, Melissa Horne, and Minister for Mental Health, Ingrid Sitt, toured the new 12 storey tower that will transform care for locals and serve the growing community for generations to come.
Delivered by the Victorian Government, the redeveloped hospital – which will be known as the ‘Peninsula University Hospital’ – will have capacity to treat 35,000 more patients every year.
Once fully operational, the new tower will include 130 more beds, new spaces for mental health and oncology services, 15 new operating theatres and a rooftop helipad to support the safe transfer of critically ill patients.
The existing emergency department has also been expanded to include a dedicated paediatric zone, and a new mental health and alcohol and other drugs hub – providing fast-tracked, tailored and specialised treatment for patients who need it, while easing pressure on the emergency department and improving safety.
The project will also deliver more care for local women and children with specialist women’s and children’s services including new maternity, obstetrics and paediatric wards, a women’s clinic and a special care nursery to support babies in their critical first weeks and months.
Taking up an entire floor, it will include endometriosis and pelvic pain multidisciplinary clinic services, and an advanced laparoscopic gynaecology specialist and allied health team, including physiotherapy.
Designed to reflect the landscape of the Mornington Peninsula, the reception area features three massive wooden beams resembling native trees and a large canopy designed to imitate sea foam found along the nearby coastline.
Since ground broke on the project in June 2022, three million hours of work have been completed by more than 5,200 workers on site.
The Frankston Hospital redevelopment is being delivered by the Victorian Health Building Authority in partnership with Peninsula Health and the Exemplar Health consortium.
Minister Horne said, “This is the largest ever health infrastructure project in the region – with millions of hours of work completed by thousands of construction workers, it’s fantastic to see main works complete.”
Minister Stitt said, “With a new mental health and AOD hub in the emergency department, the redeveloped Frankston Hospital will provide better access to specialist mental health care for families in the southeast and the Mornington Peninsula.”
