Locals have taken their first look inside upgraded Wonthaggi Hospital

The new ‘state-of-the-art’ hospital has opened its doors to hundreds of locals keen to see its $115m upgrade. See the video.

Close to 600 Bass Coast residents got a first glimpse of the upgraded Wonthaggi Hospital ahead of its official opening next month.

The hospital hosted an open day on Saturday, November 12 where the public was able to tour the expansion and learn how the hospital would benefit them.

Bass Coast Health said they were “proud” to be able to open the building to the community so they could enjoy an exclusive look.

Visitors travelled from across the region to tour the facility, which will officially open its doors next month.

Visitors saw inside the new expanded Emergency Department, the spacious new Acute Ward with 32 beds and capacity for paediatrics in the longer-term, as well as the three new operating theatres plus an endoscopy procedure room.

Bass Coast Health CEO Jan Child said the open day was a celebration of the amazing, modern facility that will be a game-changer in the delivery of healthcare in the region.

“Our staff and our community are so proud of this spectacular hospital expansion that will cater for not only the needs of today’s community, but also the future as our region grows,” she said.

“The hospital is future-proofed, which means we have the space to expand our services over time to bring even more healthcare offerings to the community, enabling more people to receive care close to home and not have to travel to Melbourne or the Latrobe Valley, away from their family and friends.”

Residents were gushing about the facility as they took in all the features.

“This facility is state-of-the-art and it’s got everything that we need. We are just so lucky to have this building in Wonthaggi,” Shane Clements, of Inverloch, said.

San Remo Opportunity Shop Auxiliary member Caroline Talbot said:

“It’s absolutely amazing and just overwhelming. To think that we have something like this.”

Dianne McCurry of Wonthaggi Rotary Club said it was “incredible”.

“It’s beyond my imagination. It’s world class. I did not believe that we would have a hospital of this level.”

The open day also featured a Welcome to Country, a huge auxiliary fete and sausage sizzle.

Mrs Child said the entire organisation had been waiting for the day they could share this development with the public.

“We are immensely proud of the newly expanded hospital and we invite everyone to join us in what will be a great community celebration,” she said.

This is the first of three stages to expand and upgrade the current facilities.

“Our region has been growing and will continue to grow. BCH has been growing its services to deliver on its role as a subregional health service, with the key aim to care for more people closer to home,” Mrs Child said.

The move into the hospital expansion will take place in stages, with the aim to have reception, and surgical and medical inpatients into the third floor in December.

The emergency department, short stay unit and radiology will also move across in December.

Surgery will be undertaken in the new theatres from mid-January.

Some areas will not be used for their intended purpose for a few months or years while the transitionary process and new construction of future stages occurs.