Building works on the next stage of the $45 million redevelopment of the Kingston Centre have begun.
Visiting the Cheltenham site today, Health Minister Daniel Andrews said the expanded facility would improve access to important sub-acute hospital beds and rehabilitation services for patients in Melbourne’s south east.
“The Brumby Labor Government is taking action to give Victorians a better health system, by building new hospitals and hiring more doctors and nurses,” Mr Andrews said.
“We are funding this important expansion so that more Victorians in the growing south-eastern suburbs can access the very best healthcare, close to where they live.
“These are vital services that help people recover and rehabilitate properly from serious illness or injury.”
“The redeveloped Kingston Centre will include a 64 bed sub-acute ward, a new hydrotherapy pool and new rehabilitation facilities.
“These are vital services that help people recover and rehabilitate properly from serious illness or injury.”
Member for Mordialloc Janice Munt said the redeveloped service would provide an extra 32,000 treatments for local patients each year.
“This project will deliver the very best rehabilitation facilities for even more people in the community, and give patients increased privacy in new wards,” she said.
“It’s an important investment from our Government that will boost access to hydrotherapy and community rehabilitation services.
“This $45 million redevelopment comes on top of our record support for Southern Health, which has 144 per cent more funding today than it did in 1999.”
Mr Andrews said the building works would create about 170 jobs.
“We’ve already completed $25 million of important infrastructure works on the Kingston Centre, so it’s good to begin this next stage of construction,” he said.
“We’re investing in local health services so Victorian patients can access the very best care close to home, close to where they live.”
Building is expected to finish in December 2011.