Coalition’s $2.4bn pledge to revamp Alfred Hospital from ‘ground up’

The Coalition will make the biggest health pledge of the state election campaign to revamp the “key pillar” of Victoria’s hospital system.

A ‘key pillar’ in Victoria’s health system, The Alfred, is poised to received a mammoth upgrade under a $2.4b pre-election pledge by the Coalition. Picture: Ian Currie

Victoria’s major trauma hospital, The Alfred, will be completely revamped from the ground up under a $2.4bn promise from the Coalition.

Opposition Leader Matthew Guy will on Saturday announce the final piece of the Liberals and Nationals bold health infrastructure plan to rebuild Victoria’s failing health system.

The mammoth project will give the hospital a brand new “St Kilda Wing” and the existing building will be redeveloped into an inpatient ward tower with more than 700 multiday beds.

It is the biggest health announcement from either major party made in the campaign so far and comes just weeks after the surgeon who saved Premier Daniel Andrews’ life slammed the current state government’s failure to invest in the ageing hospital.

The Alfred’s director of trauma service Mark Fitzgerald, who provided critical care to the Premier after a nasty fall, told the Herald Sun he was “dumbfounded” that the hospital hadn’t been promised funding to rebuild 60-year-old operating theatres that are no longer fit for purpose.

Last month, Mr Andrews didn’t rule out funding for The Alfred. He said they would have to “wait and see”.

The Alfred’s new-look hospital plans have been revealed.

Once complete, the Coalition’s redevelopment will include 16 new and modern theatres including two hybrid theatres, 79 ICU beds and 102 acute mental health beds.

The existing emergency and trauma centre will be expanded to create 26 emergency short stay beds, while 32 subacute beds and 28 surgical day-surgery beds will also be added.

Four cardiac catheterisation labs will also be built alongside new and expanded pathology, pharmacy and medical imaging facilities.

And more onsite carparking would become available for patients.

The final commitment brings the Coalition’s commitments to spend on health infrastructure to $8.7bn, which includes building or upgrading more than 20 hospitals.

Opposition Leader Matthew Guy said the significant investment could be achieved by shelving the Suburban Rail Loop project, which has been costed at $35bn for the first stage.

Mr Guy said despite the critical role The Alfred plays in Victoria’s healthcare system, years of neglect under Daniel Andrews has left it in a state of disrepair and unfit for purpose.

“As Premier, my first priority will be to fix the health crisis,” he said.

“The Alfred Hospital is a key pillar of Victoria’s health system and this rebuild will mean more surgeries and better care for tens of thousands a Victorians each and every year.

“This November, the choice is clear – real solutions to fix the health crisis or a new train line in 13 years’ time.”

Opposition Leader Matthew Guy said he’d make fixing Victoria’s health system his first priority if the Coalition won the state election.

Opposition health spokeswoman Georgie Crozier said the Coalition’s plan was a real solution to give Victorians the healthcare they deserve.

“For too long, the Alfred Hospital has been neglected and overlooked by Daniel Andrews,’ Ms Crozier said.

“It’s unacceptable that Victoria’s busiest hospital relies on infrastructure from more than half a century ago.

“Labor has been in power for 19 of the past 23 years and Daniel Andrews has been Health Minister or Premier for 12 of the last 16 years. The person who created this mess isn’t the one to fix it.”

The Andrews government has committed to building Australia’s biggest ever health

infrastructure project with a new Royal Melbourne and Royal Women’s Hospital campus at the new Arden suburb, making an initial investment of $2-2.5bn.

This promise was made prior to the election campaign and will be delivered regardless of the election result.