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Re-elected Victorian Labor government will invest upto $675M to build a new hospital in Drouin

A re-elected Andrews Labor government will build a new state-of-the-art hospital and public aged care facility for residents in West Gippsland, delivering better care closer to home.

By news@gippsland - 3rd October 2022 - Back to News

West Gippsland is booming - more and more families are choosing to make the rolling hills of the Baw Baw Shire their home. As West Gippsland changes, the local hospital and aged care facility need to change with it. That's why a re-elected Labor government will invest $610 - $675 million to build a brand new hospital for locals in West Gippsland, located in Drouin East.

The new hospital will deliver more beds, a bigger emergency department and more operating theatres, supporting the rapidly growing population in Drouin, West Gippsland

Supporting the growing population

The Liberals' under-funded thought bubble for West Gippsland shows they can't be trusted to deliver what the community needs. When it comes to regional hospitals, the Liberals have more experience closing and selling off healthcare than building what's needed.

They shut down the Moe hospital and they privatised and bankrupted the Latrobe Regional Hospital - putting profits before patients in Gippsland. Under Labor, the new hospital will deliver more beds, a bigger emergency department and more operating theatres - supporting the rapidly growing population in West Gippsland.

There will be up to 223 beds and treatment spaces - an increase of up to 75 from the old hospital site. The emergency department will have up to 33 treatment spaces, boosting capacity by 19 so more patients can be treated, faster.

Compassionate and dedicated care

A trip to the emergency department can be overwhelming for kids - and incredibly stressful for parents. That's why the new emergency departments will include dedicated waiting and treatment spaces for families - delivering calm, compassionate and dedicated care when they need it most.

Three new operating theatres will be equipped with the cutting-edge technology our healthcare workers need to deliver the best possible care for patients in surgery.

There will also be up to 25 spaces to provide outpatient care and specialist treatment to provide complex care closer to home. West Gippsland is experiencing a baby boom - there were almost 1,000 babies born at the hospital in the last 12 months and the local population is set to grow even further.

Investing in healthcare workforce

The new hospital will deliver a new birthing unit, including special care nursery cots and a maternity unit. As the local population of Baw Baw Shire grows, so does its ageing population, creating growing demand for public aged care services. That's why Labor will also deliver a new public aged care service alongside the new hospital, with up to 60 beds.

Construction on the new hospital is expected to begin by 2024 and is estimated to create 1,800 jobs - boosting employment opportunities for locals in Gippsland. World-class healthcare is about more than bricks and mortar - we're doing what matters by investing in our healthcare workforce, too.

Additional staff accommodation

The new West Gippsland Hospital will include additional staff accommodation to help house and train the next generation of healthcare workers. This important training opportunity gives trainee nurses and doctors a taste of life in the regions, encouraging them to pursue careers in healthcare outside of the city.

New figures released yesterday show that since coming to government, Labor has recruited more than 26,000 extra healthcare workers - growing the public health workforce by 33 per cent since 2014. The numbers reveal we've grown our workforce by nearly four per cent in just the last 12 months alone.

In the last term, we've grown the workforce by more than 18 percent - around 16,500 workers. Labor is doing what matters - investing in the healthcare infrastructure and the workforce that Victorians need.

Needing a new local hospital

Premier Daniel Andrews said, "More and more Victorians have discovered West Gippsland is a beautiful place to live and work - this booming population needs a new local hospital to deliver world-class care. Labor is doing what matters - we'll deliver the new hospital and an aged care centre that West Gippsland needs, now and into the future."

Minister for Disability, Ageing and Carers Colin Brooks said, "The Liberals closed the Moe hospital and sold off the Latrobe Regional Hospital. Their promise to deliver a new hospital in West Gippsland is undercooked and underfunded - they can't even get the costs right. The Liberals' record on regional hospitals is clearly cuts and closures - they can't be trusted to deliver the healthcare Victoria needs."

Access to the best care

Member for Eastern Victoria Harriet Shing said, "The brand-new hospital and aged care facility will help more West Gippslanders to get the care and treatment they need, closer to home - and from Wonthaggi to Orbost, Labor is doing what matters."

Labor Candidate for Morwell Kate Maxfield said, "We're making sure that from our first born to our elderly - all Gippslanders have access to the best care possible and only Labor will support the health system as our population continues to grow."

Pictures from West Gippsland Hospital Supporters Facebook page.

Source: http://gippsland.com/

Published by: news@gippsland.com

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• Morwell’s Gippsland Sports and Entertainment Park celebrates major $45M redevelopment and new regional sporting facilities
  Morwell’s Gippsland Sports and Entertainment Park celebrates a $45 million redevelopment, featuring five playing surfaces, 1,200 seats, upgraded facilities and new event spaces.
• Walhalla Museum launches virtual reality experience bringing gold mining history to life for visitors through new Regional Tourism upgrade project
  Walhalla Museum has launched a $50,000-funded virtual reality experience showcasing its gold mining history, with multilingual and accessible visitor facilities supported through the Victorian government's Tiny Towns Fund.
• Wellington Shire Council opposes mandatory fourth glass recycling bin, urging Victoria to allow council flexibility instead
  Wellington Shire Council has again urged the Victorian government to scrap mandatory household glass bins, citing costs, practicality and existing Container Deposit Scheme success while seeking greater flexibility for regional councils.
• Gippsland students impress Darren Chester with their understanding of Australian democracy and government
  Federal Member for Gippsland Darren Chester praised St Mary’s Primary School Maffra students for their strong understanding of Australian democracy, Parliament and government during a recent civics visit and discussion.
• RACV survey highlights Gippsland highways among Victoria’s most concerning roads, prompting renewed calls for improved safety
  RACV’s 2026 survey ranks Gippsland highways among Victoria’s most concerning roads, citing potholes, poor surfaces and safety issues. Nationals MP Danny O’Brien has outlined a $5 billion regional roads commitment.
• Gippsland secures $288M country roads and bridges commitment under national government
  The Nationals will restore the Country Roads and Bridges Program, providing Victoria's 48 regional councils $1.5 million annually for four years to repair roads, bridges and local infrastructure.
• Nationals demand stronger policing as rising Latrobe Valley crime fuels growing community safety concerns and frustration
  The Nationals say rising Latrobe Valley crime and fewer police officers demand urgent Labor government action, calling for stronger policing, tougher laws and better resources to restore community safety.
• Gemma Rendell and Darren Chester urge Gippslanders to add vegetables daily through new healthy eating campaign
  The "Get the Edge. Eat More Veg" campaign launched in Sale, urging Gippslanders to add one extra vegetable served daily while supporting local growers, jobs and health.
• Flight test command centre opens, strengthening Latrobe's role in Australia's advanced aviation innovation sector and creating new opportunities
  Latrobe's new Flight Test Range Command Centre has opened at Latrobe Regional Airport, supporting advanced aviation research, drone technology, investment, manufacturing growth and skilled jobs across the region.
• East Gippsland Landcare Groups secure funding for environmental projects and community conservation across the region
  East Gippsland Landcare groups received 22 project and 11 support grants under the 2026 Victorian program, funding habitat restoration, weed management, biodiversity, education and volunteer activities.
• Working together to secure East Gippsland's water future through integrated water management
  East Gippsland CMA and regional partners are collaborating through Integrated Water Management to address climate, flooding, population growth, stormwater, recycled water and wetland protection challenges while planning sustainable projects.