- Published:
- Wednesday 11 December 2024
The Allan Labor Government is continuing to make significant progress on the massive $1.1 billion Frankston Hospital redevelopment, with the external façade of the new clinical services tower now complete.
Minister for Health Infrastructure Mary-Anne Thomas today visited the site, which will transform care in Melbourne’s south east – with capacity to treat an additional 35,000 patients each year once fully operational.
Designed to reflect the natural beauty of the Mornington Peninsula, the striking façade is made up of 4,485 glass, terracotta and porcelain panels – 3,911 on the clinical services tower and 547 on the multi-deck car park.
Weighing between 250 and 1,000 kilograms each, the panels were carefully craned into place to allow for sunlight to flood into patient rooms.
Work is also underway to install hundreds of solar panels and to construct the helipad at ground level, before it is lifted onto the roof in stages. Meanwhile, inside the building work is progressing with services being fitted out level by level.
Construction of the emergency department’s new paediatric zone and mental health, alcohol and other drugs hub is also well underway, with staff and patients already benefiting from a newly opened 13-bed short stay unit.
The new short stay unit will cater for patients requiring treatment and monitoring for less than 24 hours – easing pressure on hardworking staff by assisting with patient flow and reducing patient wait times.
The workforce is now at its peak with 900 people on site – to date 1.8 million hours of work has been completed by approximately 3,800 workers since ground broke on the project in June 2022.
The redevelopment is delivering a new clinical services tower and main entrance, 130 more beds, new spaces for mental health and oncology services, expanded children’s services and 15 new operating theatres.
Once complete in late 2025, the redevelopment will also become home to the Peninsula Health Women’s Health Clinic, which commenced services earlier this year.
Taking up an entire floor, the clinic’s services will include an endometriosis and pelvic pain multidisciplinary clinic, an advanced laparoscopic gynaecology specialist and allied health team, including physiotherapy.
Quote attributable to Minister for Health Infrastructure Mary-Anne Thomas
“We’re transforming health services for families in Frankston, the Mornington Peninsula and right across Melbourne’s south-east – delivering them the world-class healthcare they need, closer to home.”
Quote attributable to Member for Frankston Paul Edbrooke
“With the last panels of this giant façade lifted into place, it’s great for the community to see the hospital redevelopment reach another important milestone.”
Quote attributable to Member for Carrum Sonya Kilkenny
“It is so exciting to see the latest milestone at Frankston Hospital ticked off – we are yet another step closer to completion and further improving the world-class health services already available to local families.”
Quote attributable to Member for Hastings Paul Mercurio
“This project will be a gamechanger for the locals across the south east – the design of the façade not only looks amazing but also allows natural light to fill wards which will make a big difference for sick patients and their visiting families, as well as staff.”