Western Health has hit a major milestone, with the official sod turning at the site of the New Footscray Hospital.
Western Health has hit a major milestone, with the official 'sod' turning marking the beginning of construction of the $1.5 billion New Footscray Hospital.
Board Chair Robyn Batten and Chief Executive Russell Harrison joined Health Minister Martin Foley and Member for Footscray Katie Hall – along with former health minister and Member for Altona Jill Hennessy – for the official event on Friday, 26 March.
The designs for the New Footscray Hospital, which is the biggest health infrastructure project in Victoria's history, were also revealed for the first time.
The New Footscray Hospital is on track to open in 2025 and will replace the current hospital on Gordon Street, which was built in the 1950s.
Operated by Western Health, the new hospital will have over 500 beds, treat almost 15,000 additional patients and allow almost 20,000 extra people to be seen by the emergency department each year. There will also be more outpatient, mental health, palliative care and surgical services.
The hospital is being delivered by the Plenary Health consortium, comprising Plenary Group as sponsor, investor and asset manager, Multiplex as builder, Honeywell and Compass Group as facility services providers and Sojitz Corporation as investor.
Health Minister Martin Foley said: "This bigger and better hospital will cut waiting times and take pressure off other Melbourne hospitals, so patients in Melbourne's west can get the world-class care they need faster and closer to home."
Click on the link to take a virtual tour of the New Footscray Hospital.
