- Minister for Health
Mums and their newborns have made the move into the flagship new Joan Kirner Women’s and Children’s Hospital built by the Andrews Labor Government.
Minister for Health Jenny Mikakos met some of the Hospital’s first patients today, who have transferred into the cutting-edge Joan Kirner Women’s and Children’s Hospital from Sunshine Hospital next door.
More than 150 women, children and babies and some 200 staff members were moved as part of the meticulously-planned operation. The move also involved 24 babies in special care nursery cots.
The Joan Kirner Women’s and Children’s Hospital will offer local women and families in Melbourne’s west the world-class maternity and paediatric services that they deserve, and feature the western suburbs’ first neonatal intensive care unit to care for the most critically-ill patients.
The state-of-the-art hospital will mean more local mums will be able to give birth and access specialist services closer to home. The Joan Kirner Women’s and Children’s Hospital is forecast to deliver 7,000 babies each year by 2026.
It includes 20 maternity delivery rooms, 237 beds, 39 special care nursery cots, four theatres and additional clinics.
The Hospital comprises nine floors, has more floor space than the MCG and used enough concrete to fill nearly four Olympic size swimming pools.
The Joan Kirner Women’s and Children’s Hospital is paving the way for 150 extra full-time nurses and midwives.
Thanks to the Labor Government’s new and improved nurse and midwife to patient ratios, hard-working nurses and midwives are in higher demand than ever before. The strengthened ratios are now in place after passing the Parliament earlier this year.
The Labor Government is giving families in Melbourne’s west the world-class healthcare they need, when they need it, closer to home. Our investments include a $29.6 million upgrade of the Sunshine Hospital Emergency Department and a $1.5 billion new Footscray Hospital.
As noted by Minister for Health Jenny Mikakos
“Today has been years in the making. The cutting-edge hospital is now complete, the move is under way, and local families are set to benefit from the very best in maternity and paediatric care.”
“Today’s move has required an enormous coordination, and I’m so grateful to our hard-working hospital staff for making it all run smoothly.”
As noted by Member for St Albans Natalie Suleyman
“The Joan Kirner Women’s and Children’s Hospital is a big boost for our community and for local families. Thousands of mums will be able to have their baby and ensure they get the treatment and care they need.”
