The $20-million redevelopment of the west’s only private hospital has been unveiled.
Health Minister Jill Hennessy last week officially opened the new Western Private Hospital’s three-storey complex, which is linked to the original hospital across the road by an enclosed bridge.
Next to the public Footscray Hospital on Eleanor Street, the redevelopment has doubled the number of inpatient beds at Western Private to 68.
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It includes six new ICU beds, 21 cardiac services beds and the west’s first Positron emission tomography (PET) scanner, which will help reduce the need for cancer patients to travel great distances.
Chief executive and director of nursing Vicki Canning said the redevelopment, the biggest at the hospital in 20 years, was a response to high demand for services in the west.
“We are in one of the fastest growth areas in Victoria and we are looking to plan our next phase,” she said.
“We are looking to build our relationship with Western Health [the public hospital] and try to avoid duplicating services unnecessarily.”
Ms Canning said the redevelopment had been welcomed by staff and patients.
The redevelopment has also boosted local employment by doubling the number of nursing staff.
