Hospital redevelopment enters final stage

STAGE two of the Ballarat Base Hospital redevelopment has been completed including a six-storey power supply and support services building.

Minister for Health Infrastructure Mary-Anne Thomas visited the site last Thursday to celebrate the milestone, and Grampians Health staff have begun to move into the building.

The space contains a pharmacy, pathology services and an education centre for Grampians Health and Deakin Rural Clinical School, as well as technology to provide power, heating and cooling to the rest of the hospital.

Backup power can also be supplied from the building during any potential emergencies.

“I’m a huge supporter of Ballarat Base Hospital, it’s where I had both my babies at this hospital and I received beautiful care,” said Member for Wendouree Juliana Addison.

“What we will be doing now in this education centre is making sure that our doctors and our nurses have the best qualifications, the best training to continue to deliver excellent care close to home.”

The redevelopment now shifts to its third and final stage to build a multi-level hospital tower and main entrance, an upgraded emergency department and a rooftop helipad.

It is expected to be completed by 2027 and allow the hospital to treat 18,000 more emergency patients and an extra 14,500 inpatients and 4,000 surgeries each year.

“Stage three is all about delivering on our government’s commitment to deliver more health services to the people of Ballarat and indeed across the Grampians region,” said Ms Thomas.

“The $655 million redevelopment of the Ballarat Base Hospital is the largest single infrastructure project that has ever been delivered in Ballarat’s history.”