New entrances for hospital expansion

WORKS at the Ballarat Base Hospital have been expanded with a plan to relocate the entrances to the emergency department.

Western Victoria upper house MP Jaala Pulford visited the site last week to announce the update to the facility’s redevelopment plan.

The new entrances will add to the State Government’s over $540 million reconstruction of the hospital, the updates will see new entry points off Mair and Sturt streets that will segregate ambulances from access for the public to the ED.

Ms Pulford said the entrances will add to the overall development, which includes a new emergency department, theatre suites, and hubs for treating women and children.

“This redevelopment fits within our entire reimagining and envisaging of Ballarat’s health care needs and the broader region’s health care needs,” she said.

“The new main entry will move from Drummond Street to a dedicated driveway off Sturt Street.

“It will be safer for people moving through the area, whether they’re on foot, on scooter or coming by ambulance or via car.”

Both Eildon House and the Edward Wilson Building will be demolished in order to accommodate for the redevelopment which is being carried out by contractor H Troon and with an expected 1400 construction jobs created through the project.

Grampians Health CEO Dale Fraser said the works will not impede on the hospital’s operations, and that the clinical and engineering services within the demolished buildings have been relocated.

The completed construction will boost the hospital’s capacity, allowing for the treatment of 18,000 extra emergency patients and 4000 more surgeries per year alongside 100 extra beds for short stay patients.

The new facilities will be operational by 2024, with an additional 1000 positions available at the hospital upon completion.

Much of the development has been shaped by over 1000 instances of community consultation, including from Raveen Chilukuri, who represented the Indian and South-East Asian community, and raised concerns about the difficulties in navigating the hospital.

“I myself faced one when my wife was pregnant. She was in the maternity ward and I used to come in day in day out a couple of times a day,” he said.

“I had to cross so many parts. It was always confusing. I raised this and now in this development plan they have very good options of how to find where you need to go.

“Having the signage helps, even the maps showing in each area which where leads where, it will be very much helpful.

“Whoever I spoke to in the community was very excited. They don’t have to look for options, they will have all they need so after this development program is done. They’ll be feeling welcomed.”