Photo: SBS

Minister for Health Jenny Mikakos today announced that Member for Footscray Katie Hall will lead a Community Consultation Committee which will get underway next month.

The committee will provide a forum for members of the local community to participate in project planning and development through open dialogue and consultation.

The new Footscray Hospital is proposed to be delivered as a Public Private Partnership and expected to open in 2025.

The 504-bed hospital is proposed to be built next to Victoria University’s Footscray Park campus, on the corner of Geelong and Ballarat Roads. It will replace the ageing Footscray Hospital, which was built in the 1950s.

The bigger and better Footscray Hospital will meet the increasing demand from Melbourne’s booming western suburbs and ensure families can get the care they need closer to home and create up to 2,000 jobs in the process.

With an increase of nearly 200 beds, the hospital will treat almost 15,000 additional patients each year as well as almost 20,000 extra emergency department admissions. There will also be more outpatient, palliative care and mental health services.

In a further boost, up to 17,000 western suburbs residents per year will be able to receive treatment within their local community rather than having to travel to other inner-city hospitals. This will save local residents time and take pressure off other hospitals.

The Community Consultation Committee will include representatives from key organisations such as local councils and health services providers and the local community. Over the coming weeks we will reach out to the community via an EOI process through advertisements in local press.

For more information visit the Victorian Health and Human Services Building Authority website at www.vhhsba.vic.gov.au/health-infrastructure/new-footscray-hospital.