The completely rebuilt Bendigo Hospital has been formally opened, marking the official arrival of the largest ever hospital redevelopment in regional Victoria.
Initially funded by the previous Labor Government, the project has made Bendigo Hospital the most technologically advanced in regional Australia.
The $630 million redevelopment has given the growing Bendigo community the world-class hospital it needs with 372 inpatient beds, 72 same-day beds, 11 operating theatres and an integrated cancer centre.
A bigger and better maternity unit, 80-bed mental health unit, a hotel and a childcare centre were also unveiled.
The project was completed with the final touches including a multi-level car park, helipad, short-stay accommodation units and retail outlets. Around 14 emergency helicopters have already landed at the hospital.
The flagship Bendigo Hospital project created more than 1,200 jobs during construction and took workers a total of 2.6 million hours to build. The new hospital has created an extra 220 jobs in the first 12 months of operation.
Bendigo Health will receive more than $320 million this financial year – a 12.1 per cent increase on the previous 12 months, and 37.1 per cent more than when the Liberals were in power.
Victorian? Minister for Health, Jill Hennessy, said, “We’re proud to play our part in giving Bendigo’s dedicated team of doctors and nurses the state-of-the-art hospital they need to do what they do best.”
Member for Bendigo West, Maree Edwards, said, “This hospital will change the lives of patients and their families all over Bendigo and the rest of Central Victoria – as well as the hard-working health care staff who we value so much.”
