Premier Jacinta Allan has toured the emergency department (ED) at the new Footscray Hospital on Tuesday morning, 24 hours before it welcomes its first patients.
Health Minister Mary-Anne Thomas, Mental Health Minister Ingrid Stitt, local MPs Katie Hall and Sarah Connolly and Western Health chief executive Russell Harrison joined Ms Allan in touring the expanded ED on 17 February ahead of the new hospital’s official opening on 18 February.
The new facility will have more resuscitation bays, fast-track bays, and acute and short stay beds than its predecessor, while also featuring a CT, ultrasound and X-ray suite among its 5000 pieces of equipment.
It’s first patients are expected to arrive at 8am on Wednesday morning, part of the 20,000 extra patients the new ED is expected to handle each year.
Tomorrow’s opening also involves the transportation of up to 180 patients from the old Footscray Hospital on Gordon Street, to the new hospital on the corner of Geelong and Ballarat roads.
More than 4500 staff have been training for the move which will begin with the first patients leaving the old hospital at 7.30am and is expected to finish by 6pm.
“We’re making life easier for families in Melbourne’s west with the new Footscray Hospital – just like we promised,” Ms Allan said ahead of the opening.
“The new Footscray Hospital ED will deliver faster care for locals and help get ambos back on the road sooner,” Ms Thomas added, while Footscray MP Katie Hall said 18 February would be a landmark day for the inner west.
“This is a huge day for our community.”
