Work has started on $20 million intensive care unit at the Angliss Hospital

WORK has started on the $20 million upgrade of the Angliss Hospital in Melbourne’s east, the State Government has announced today.

The Angliss Hospital in Upper Ferntree Gully is getting a $20 million upgrade.

WORK has started on the $20 million upgrade of Angliss Hospital, including a new intensive care unit.

The State Government announced today Kane Constructions had started building a fourth level on top of the main building of the Upper Ferntree Gully hospital for the unit.

Eastern Health executive director of corporate projects and sustainability Zoltan Kokai said the upgrade would add 20 beds to the hospital — 14 critical care beds in the intensive care unit, and six in the emergency department short stay unit.

The paediatric emergency and short stay area will also be refurbished.

Mr Kokai said the new ICU would mean less patients would have to be transferred to other hospitals, and could be cared for close to home.

There are no plans to develop more car parking at this stage of construction but Mr Kokai said if there was future demand they would develop parking as necessary.

During construction the hospital’s courtyard will be closed to facilitate the movement of builders, with a new lift to be built to connect the fourth floor to the lower floors.

“That will be how we access the new ICU on the fourth floor and it will provide rapid transport between the emergency department, the operating suite and the ICU,” Mr Kokai said.

Mr Kokai said the hospital would continue to operate as per usual during the upgrade.

“We’ll make sure any movements will be minimised, keep neighbours informed, and make sure the hospital will continue to operate 24/7 unimpeded by the construction,” Mr Kokai said.

The upgrade is due to be finished by 2018.

Deputy Premier James Merlino said it was a special day for the hospital, which was much-loved by the community.