- Minister for Health
The flagship new Joan Kirner Women's and Children's Hospital built by the Andrews Labor Government is complete and will open its doors this month.
Minister for Health Jenny Mikakos today joined local nurses, doctors, the community and the late Joan Kirner's husband, Ron Kirner, at the opening of the $200 million cutting-edge hospital.
The Joan Kirner Women's and Children's Hospital will offer local women and families in Melbourne's west world-class maternity and paediatric services, honouring the legacy of Victoria's first female Premier.
It will feature the western suburbs' first ever neonatal intensive care unit to care for the most critically ill babies.
The state-of-the-art hospital will mean more local mums will be able to give birth and access specialist services closer to home. The Joan Kirner Women's and Children's Hospital is forecast to deliver 7,000 babies each year by 2026.
It includes 20 maternity delivery rooms, 237 beds, 39 special care nursery cots, four theatres and additional clinics.
The hospital comprises nine floors, has more floor space than the MCG and used enough concrete to fill nearly four Olympic size swimming pools.
The Joan Kirner Women's and Children's Hospital is paving the way for 150 extra full-time nurses and midwives.
Thanks to the Labor Government's new and improved nurse and midwife to patient ratios, hard-working nurses and midwives are in higher demand than ever before. The strengthened ratios are now in place after passing the Parliament earlier this year.
The Labor Government is giving families in Melbourne's west the world-class healthcare they need, when they need it, closer to home. Our investments include a $29.6 million upgrade of the Sunshine Hospital Emergency Department and a $1.5 billion new Footscray Hospital.
The Joan Kirner Women's and Children's Hospital opens its doors on 15 May.
As noted by Minister for Health Jenny Mikakos
"More families in Melbourne's west will be able to access the best paediatric and maternity services close to home thanks to the Joan Kirner Women's and Children's Hospital proudly built by the Andrews Labor Government."
"Joan Kirner was a tireless advocate for families in Melbourne's west - and the Joan Kirner Women's and Children's Hospital will make sure her legacy lives on in the west for generations to come."
As noted by Member for St Albans Natalie Suleyman
"The Joan Kirner Women's and Children's Hospital will mean so much to local families. Thousands of mums will be able to have their baby and get the world-class care they need, right through their journey, closer to home."
