A new four-storey ambulatory care centre at Northern Hospital in Epping will begin receiving patients on Monday, completing the first stage of an $813 million redevelopment intended to expand health services across Melbourne’s growing northern suburbs.
The dedicated building will provide specialist outpatient services including allied health, pathology, respiratory medicine and dialysis for patients who do not require an overnight hospital stay.
Premier Ben Carroll said the expansion was needed to meet rising demand at the hospital.
“The Northern ED is one of Victoria’s busiest. That’s why we’re making sure families get better access to world-class care, closer to home,” he said.
Completion of the ambulatory care centre clears the way for the next stage of the redevelopment, which will include a larger emergency department and a new inpatient tower.
The project is scheduled to be completed in 2029 and is expected to allow the hospital to treat an additional 30,000 emergency patients each year.
Plans include about 200 treatment spaces, additional inpatient beds, a dedicated paediatric zone, an emergency observation unit and a specialist hub for mental health and alcohol and other drug services.
Health Infrastructure Minister Melissa Horne said the redevelopment was designed to meet the long-term needs of communities across Melbourne’s north.
“This major investment will support the growing northern suburbs for decades to come,” she said.
Northern Hospital’s emergency department treats more than 300 patients a day and has regularly recorded more presentations than any other emergency department in Victoria. The redevelopment is intended to increase capacity while allowing patients requiring outpatient treatment to receive care away from the emergency and inpatient areas.
Member for Thomastown Bronwyn Halfpenny said the expansion would give residents greater access to services within the region.
“A bigger, better ED and more services, closer to home — that’s what Labor is delivering for Melbourne’s north,” she said.
Member for Mill Park Lily D’Ambrosio described the project as an important addition to the region’s health infrastructure.
“This project is a gamechanger for Melbourne’s north and will mean better, faster care for our community,” she said.
Member for Yan Yean Lauren Kathage said the completion of the ambulatory centre brought the redevelopment closer to delivering the expanded emergency department.
“This is such an exciting milestone and means we are well on the way to delivering a new, world-class ED for the community in the north,” she said.
Labor also used the hospital opening to draw a political contrast with the opposition ahead of Victoria’s November election.
“Only Labor builds new hospitals and invests in world-class care – a One Nation-Liberal Coalition will slash jobs, close hospitals and put Victorians at risk,” Carroll said.
The government has characterised the opposition’s fiscal policies as a $40 billion cuts program and argues that savings of that size would affect hospitals and other public services.
The Liberal and Nationals opposition has rejected claims that its plans would cut frontline health workers. Its published policy proposes saving $22 billion over 10 years through a hiring freeze covering back-office public service positions, with nurses, police, teachers and other frontline roles excluded.
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