With more families calling Melbourne's growing south eastern suburbs home, women and children are at the heart of the new $1.1 billion Frankston Hospital.
Minister for Health Mary-Anne Thomas today toured the hospital's new and expanded women's and children's facilities ahead of doors opening to the first patients tomorrow.
Now known as Peninsula University Hospital, the new 12-storey tower is set to transform healthcare for locals now and into the future, with capacity to treat up to 35,000 more patients ever year.
It features a new and expanded emergency department, a new main entrance, new spaces for a range of services including mental health and oncology services, 15 new operating theatres, a helipad, and once fully operational, 130 more beds.
Recognising the need for more accessible, public women's health services, the new tower includes an entire floor dedicated to women's and children's services - this includes a special care nursery, birthing and maternity, child and adolescent services, with space to expand further.
The existing Peninsula Women's Health Clinic which will also move into the state-of-the-art purpose-built facility - bringing together multidisciplinary care from endometriosis and pelvic pain services, an advanced laparoscopic gynaecology specialist to an allied health team, including physiotherapy.
Made possible by the Labor Government's $153 million transformative women's health package, the clinic is part of a network of 20 opening across Victoria, as well as 20 sexual and reproductive health hubs, virtual and mobile women's health clinics, and a dedicated and first of its kind Aboriginal women's health clinic.
Growing families will also benefit with a new maternity ward providing modern birthing suites (including birthing pools) and family‑centred postnatal spaces designed to give parents a safe, comfortable and supportive environment throughout pregnancy, birth and early recovery.
The special care nursery will deliver dedicated, higher‑acuity support for newborns needing extra care, ensuring families can stay close to home while their bubs receive world‑class neonatal treatment.
The redevelopment also provides a larger paediatric ward equipped to support more children with a wide range of healthcare needs, giving families the option of timely and specialised care on their doorstep.
The new and expanded emergency department also includes a dedicated paediatric zone staffed by paediatric emergency nurses and staff who will deliver care in a calm, family-friendly environment.
As stated by Minister for Health Mary-Anne Thomas
"The bigger and better Frankton Hospital will make sure women living in the local community have the specialist care they need, closer to home."
"Every parent wants the peace of mind that when they need the best care for their child, they can get it - and with new and expanded services, that's exactly we are delivering here in Frankston."
As stated by Member for Frankston Paul Edbrooke
"The brand-new hospital is giving families across Frankston the confidence that they have access to world-class maternity, newborn, women's and children's services when they need it."
