The health of those we love is the most important thing – and the Andrews Labor Government is making sure more Victorians can get the care they need, with an unparalleled investment in healthcare close to home.

The Victorian Budget 2020/21 will deliver $9 billion over the next four years to ensure our world-class hospitals and local health services come out of the pandemic stronger than ever.

This includes more than $2 billion to build, expand and modernise hospitals and health services across our state – ensuring no matter where you live, every family can have confidence in care close to home.

A $384.2 million investment will deliver the redevelopment of Warrnambool Hospital, with a new emergency department, extra operating theatres, new patient facilities and more acute beds, while $4.5 million will start the planning for the Angliss Hospital expansion.

Delivering on another election promise, $562 million will go towards the expansion of Frankston Hospital. The local community will see their hospital grow with additional capacity for 120 hospital beds, two new operating theatres, 13 new emergency department beds and new women’s and children’s health services.

The redevelopment will see the relocation of mental health services, improved oncology facilities and in good news for local mums and bubs, more maternity beds, a women’s clinic, a paediatric clinic and paediatric beds.

The Budget will also deliver $75 million for planning and early works for the brand-new Melton Hospital, making sure families in the west have the care and comfort they deserve. The proposed hospital will be run by Western Health, one of Victoria’s largest public health service providers.

A further $10 million will start planning to redevelop the Royal Melbourne Hospital, including establishing a new site, and potentially another for the Royal Women’s Hospital. This will activate the Labor Government’s vision for a world-class health, research and education infrastructure at the Arden Renewal Precinct in North Melbourne

The Labor Government will also invest $66.1 million to continue planning and purchase land for new Community Hospitals across Cranbourne, Pakenham, Torquay, City of Whittlesea, Eltham, Fishermans Bend and Point Cook – ensuring the best care for these local communities.

Another $217 million will deliver on the Labor Government’s promise to redevelop the Latrobe Regional Hospital, with three new operating theatres, 30 additional inpatient beds, an expanded maternity unit and six extra intensive care unit beds.

A further $3.6 million will continue planning for a new Women’s and Children’s Hospital at University Hospital in Geelong and an additional $7.6 million will fund the redevelopment of the Wangaratta Hospital, with expanded maternity facilities – giving regional families with new babies the support they deserve.

Victoria’s Regional Health Infrastructure Fund will also get a boost with $120 million to support our rural and regional health services and $200 million will deliver the brand new Metropolitan Health Infrastructure Fund so health services continue to have the specific tools they need to respond to the needs of their local community.

These investments will make sure our hospitals and local health services can keep doing the most important job there is: looking after our loved ones.

Quotes attributable to Minister for Health Martin Foley

“2020 has reminded us of what matters most – the health and wellbeing of the people we love.”

“This is an unprecedented investment. But the metric that matters most is the care and confidence it will give Victorian families.”

“Our hospitals and local health services were at the frontline of the coronavirus fight, and now we’re ensuring they’re at the forefront of our Budget.”