Premier Daniel Andrews visited University Hospital Geelong on Friday morning to mark the beginning of works on the new half-a-billion-dollar Barwon Women’s and Children’s Hospital.
The Premier said the new facility, which will give local families world-class maternity and paediatric services, will double the amount of families Barwon Health can service.
“The new Barwon Women’s and Children’s Hospital will ensure more families can get the care they need – close to home in Geelong,” Mr Andrews said.
“This redevelopment of more than $500 million is all about mums, bubs and children in this growing community getting the care they’re entitled to.
“The new hospital will be tailor-made to suit the needs of local women and children, with more specialist services and better infrastructure for staff.
“More beds, more theatres, more babies born, less families having to travel outside the local community.”
The new hospital will have direct access to facilities such as intensive care, emergency and the helipad at University Hospital Geelong, and will feature more multi-day beds, birthing suites and induction spaces, expanded specialist facilities and new operating theatres.
The facility will also include a new neonatal and parent care unit to provide care for sick and preterm babies, as well as contemporary spaces and wards for children to help make medical care less intimidating.
Site preparations will continue throughout 2023 with works expected to be completed in 2029, and the government projects the development will directly and indirectly provide up to 1,500 new jobs in the region.
