Keys to unlock health care

Geelong’s new hospital is on track to admit patients in July this year.
The key to the Waurn Ponds-based hospital was handed over from builders Brookfield Multiplex to Epworth HealthCare.
The $277 million, 262 bed state-of-the-art hospital has been under construction since April 2014 and will now be fitted out by the Epworth Geelong team in preparation for a mid-year opening.
“There’s still a great deal of hard work in front of us, but today’s milestone is truly momentous,” Epworth Geelong’s CEO Damian Armour said on 15 April.
“It’s not often that there is an opportunity to build a hospital from scratch as we have in Geelong, and that has allowed us to design a highly functional building that we’re sure the community will love,” Mr Armour said.
“I couldn’t be prouder of what has been achieved so far.”
The new hospital is on track to admit its first patients in early July 2016 opening with 172 private inpatient rooms, a purpose-designed emergency department, intensive care unit and state-of-the-art theatre precinct.
There will also be a range of diagnostic services including Epworth Medical Imaging, cardiac diagnostic services and Epworth Pathology.
Brookfield Multipex’s Regional Managing Director Graham Cottam said: “This has been a most rewarding and positive project.
“The Geelong trades community has delivered a world-class quality facility that everyone can be proud of.”