The new Footscray Hospital began operating from 8:00am this morning, with patients and staff transferring from the old site as services moved into the $1.5 billion facility.
Around 180 patients are being transferred throughout the day as the old hospital emergency department closes. Thousands of staff have started their first shifts in the new building, with services including emergency, surgery, intensive care, coronary care and mental health now under way. Some 4,500 staff undertook training ahead of the transition.
Premier Jacinta Allan said the opening marked a major step for public health in Melbourne’s west. “Families rely on a strong, modern and free health system – and only Labor invests in it,” she said. “This is a new hospital for Footscray, and a new future for health care in the west.”
Once fully operational, the hospital will have more than 500 beds, an increase of 200, and is expected to treat an additional 15,000 patients each year.
Patients requiring planned surgery will use new theatres equipped with updated technology. The theatres are linked with other Western Health sites to support education and case planning. Radiology services include three CT scanners, one located within the emergency department, along with expanded MRI capacity increasing from one to three machines.
The hospital also houses Victoria’s first fully public pathology service, designed to support Western Health’s network with faster testing and diagnosis. Consultation spaces have been expanded to improve access to specialist care.
Health Minister Mary-Anne Thomas said staff now had facilities to support their work. “Our dedicated workforce at Footscray have the modern hospital they need to deliver faster, world-class care.”
Minister for Health Infrastructure Melissa Horne acknowledged the scale of the build. “Millions of hours on site and thousands of dedicated workers brought the hospital to life.”
An education and training centre, run by Victoria University, has been incorporated into the hospital to train nurses, midwives and allied health professionals. It will also support students studying physiotherapy, speech pathology, dietetics, biomedicine and psychology.
Local member Katie Hall said the development would strengthen care in the area. “The new Footscray Hospital is going to transform free, public healthcare for our community.”
The government said 11 new hospitals have now been delivered across Victoria as part of its broader health program.
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