The Andrews Labor Government has committed $200Million for the Western Women’s and Children’s Hospital.

The new $200 million Western Women’s & Children’s Hospital will provide 237 beds, 39 special care nursery cots, four theatres and additional clinics, catering for the needs of one of the fastest growing areas in Australia.

The Andrews Labor Government will invest $560 million in new hospitals and equipment for Victoria, ensuring families can access state-of-the-art care closer to home.

In the 2015-16 Victorian Budget, the Labor Government is investing more than three times what was allocated in last year’s Budget by the former Liberal Government.

By 2026, the number of births at Sunshine Hospital is projected to exceed 7,000 per year, and it’s vital that Melbourne’s west is able to cope with this future increased demand for health care.

Preliminary work for the new hospital will be carried out over the next year, with the main construction to take place in the following two years.

The State Member for Sydenham, Natalie Hutchins, has stated that: “This budget invests in a new Western Women’s and Children’s Hospital and a new school in Taylors Hill. This is a great budget for families in the West.”

This is in addition to:

• $200 million for the Hospital Beds Rescue Fund to open new hospital beds and points of care and enable hospitals to admit more than 19,800 extra patients every year. The $200 million Hospital Beds Rescue Fund will enable hospitals to increase capacity, treat more patients sooner and reduce elective surgery waits and waiting times in emergency departments.

• $29.28 million for Sunshine Hospital to offer the full range of critical care services. The project included an expansion of the Hospital’s maternity services with five additional labour deliver rooms, and, with an ICU now on site, mothers needing critical care will no longer have to be transferred to another hospital and separated from their baby.

After four years of neglect and $1 billion in cuts to the health system by the former Liberal Government, Victorians are waiting too long for treatment at emergency departments and for elective surgery.

The Brumby Labor Government began rebuilding Sunshine Hospital in 2007, delivering $184 million to upgrade the Hospital’s central sterilising supply department and maternity ward, build a new four-bunker radiotherapy facility and the Western Centre for Health Research and Education, as well as a new four-level inpatient building.

Under the Liberals, our hospitals were in crisis. This shows that only a Labor Government will deliver on key local infrastructure.