A major milestone in the $24.8 million Brumby Government upgrade of the Western Hospital is complete with the opening of a refurbished inpatient ward with new renal dialysis services.
Visiting the hospital today, Health Minister Daniel Andrews officially opened the refurbished Ward 1 East and inspected the progress of the hospital’s Stage 1 redevelopment.
“The Brumby Government is taking action to deliver state-of-the-art health services close to where people live,” Mr Andrews said.
“The new renal dialysis service will deliver substantial benefits to the western suburbs with dramatically decreased travel times for patients.
”With this refurbishment, Western Hospital is now a higher level renal services provider.”
Mr Andrews said the Brumby Government in 2007/08 delivered $24.8 million for the hospital’s redevelopment, which included ward refurbishments and fire safety and infrastructure upgrades.
“This exciting hospital upgrade will boost the capacity of the Western Hospital to treat more patients and meet the growing demand for health services in the west,” he said.
“The refurbished Ward 1 East, completed last month, has the capacity for four renal dialysis chairs to treat inpatients and outpatients.
“In addition, the ward has 20 inpatient beds, three of which can also provide renal dialysis services.”
“In addition, the ward has 20 inpatient beds, three of which can also provide renal dialysis services.”
Mr Andrews said the upgrade of engineering infrastructure and fire safety works were progressing well.
“These works include the replacement of a substation, generators, pump house, roof-top plant and fire sprinkler works,” he said.
“This state-of-the-art refurbishment is a welcome boost to health services in the western suburbs, and comes on top of record funding of $347.9 million for Western Health this year.”
Member for Footscray Marsha Thompson MP said Victoria has the most comprehensive network of dialysis services in Australia, with 77 renal dialysis sites across the state.
“The Brumby Government will spend around $120 million in 2008/09 to deliver maintenance dialysis services,” she said.
One in three Australians are at risk of developing kidney disease, with the main causes of kidney failure being diabetes, inflammation of the kidney and high blood pressure. There are currently 2312 Victorians receiving maintenance dialysis services.
“Early diagnosis followed by appropriate treatment can reduce the rate of kidney failure, strokes and other problems by up to 50 per cent,” Mr Andrews said.