The new world-class Monash Children’s Hospital has officially opened its doors and is ready to care for up to 7000 more sick children every year.
Premier Daniel Andrews and Minister for Health Jill Hennessy today officially opened the $250 million new hospital that will change the lives of sick babies, children and adolescents needing specialist care.
With the population in Melbourne’s south-east booming, this new hospital will meet the growing demand for high quality healthcare closer to home, now and into the future.
Monash Children’s features 230 beds, made up of 96 paediatric beds, 12 dedicated children’s cancer day beds, 20 same day beds, 10 paediatric intensive care beds and 30 neonatal intensive care cots.
There is also 27 consulting rooms, three dedicated children’s operating theatres and a children’s procedure room, all fitted with the latest cutting edge medical equipment.
The purpose-built and patient-centred hospital is also equipped with the latest child-friendly technology in the Diagnostic Imaging Suite, which is designed to make diagnostic scans and procedures less scary for children.
A rehabilitation area for children, including clinically-designed indoor and outdoor relaxation and play spaces will make rehab treatment more fun and help kids recover quicker.
The first patients will move into the new hospital on April 19. From then on, the very best health care will be significantly more accessible to kids and families in Melbourne’s south-east, the Mornington Peninsula and Gippsland.
It will treat an extra 7000 children and provide an additional 60,000 specialist treatments each year, as well as over 40,000 admissions every year.
The Andrews Labor Government provided $3.8 million to build a helipad on the Monash Children’s Hospital rooftop so kids facing life-threatening emergencies will be transferred quicker.
Work is also continuing on the $14.6 million specialist 28-bed adolescent mental health facility funded in the Victorian Budget 2016/17.
Quotes attributable to Premier Daniel Andrews
“This remarkable new hospital is going to change the lives of so many children here in Victoria. From its design to its services, it is going to ensure children get the best care possible.”
“We are funding a better health system so all Victorians can get the care they need, when they need it.”
Quotes attributable to Minister for Health Jill Hennessy
“From families in the south-east all the way through to Gippsland, the new Monash Children’s Hospital will see thousands of sick kids access the very best care and facilities.”
“The work that has gone into the design of this hospital to make it child-friendly and safe is second to none. It is truly a place of healing, happiness and world-class clinical treatment.”