Renovation works at the Bacchus Marsh and Melton Regional Hospital’s maternity department started last week.
As part of the $2.5 million refurbishment the number of post-delivery beds will increase from 11 to 15, the nurse workstation and delivery suites will be upgraded and a three-bay nursery will be built.
John Ballard, administrator of Djerriwarrh Health Services that oversees the Bacchus Marsh and Melton Regional Hospital, said it was an important milestone for the hospital and they expected to eventually accommodate up to 1200 births a year.
“At Djerriwarrh, we are continuing to get on with the job of compassionately and professionally caring for the community we serve,” Dr Ballard said.
“The upgrade of the maternity department at Bacchus Marsh and Melton Regional Hospital is another vote of confidence in Djerriwarrh Health Services and its future.
“It will better equip and support the hospital to meet the immediate and future care needs of the Bacchus Marsh and Melton communities.”
The renovation is part of the state government’s $10.6 million funding commitment to the hospital announced last October.
There will be a new and temporary entrance to the maternity department, and patient and visitor access to the front of the hospital will not change. The maternity department will still operate during the renovations.
