Williamstown Hospital last week celebrated its 120th anniversary and the reopening of its theatres after several months of capital development work.
Western Health board chairman Ralph Willis said work had started on an inpatient rehabilitation gym area, allowing the hospital to expand to serve a growing community.
“Some of you may be aware that in 2012, I myself was a patient at both Western Hospital in Footscray as an inpatient following a stroke and subsequently at Williamstown Hospital where I continued my road to recovery as an outpatient,” he said.
“As Melbourne’s west continues to expand, we are faced with numerous health challenges, including the rising demand for elective surgery.
“An initiative of the national partnership agreement, the redevelopment of the operating suite includes an additional operating room and recovery rooms.
“With four theatres, the Williamstown Hospital is now an elective surgery centre for Western Health. Now with over 90 beds and ambulatory services, Williamstown Hospital continues to evolve to meet the needs of its community. It’s an integral part of Western Health.”
Mr Willis said the hospital started from a meeting of residents in 1889 who identified a need for a local hospital due to increased accidents from the port, railway workshops and growing industrial areas of Newport, Spotswood and Footscray.
It was officially opened in 1894 by the defence minister of the day and its first-year running costs were subsidised by a 100- pound government grant and 104 pounds raised by local churches and factories.
State Health Minister David Davis and Williamstown MP Wade Noonan were among guests who toured the hospital.
The Western Health Foundation will launch a 120th anniversary appeal to support the hospital’s development.
