Media Release: MEDICAL EQUIPMENT BOOST FOR GEELONG HOSPITAL

FROM THE MINISTER FOR HEALTH

DATE: Friday, February 8, 2008

MEDICAL EQUIPMENT BOOST FOR GEELONG HOSPITAL

Key patient care and medical equipment at Barwon Health will be updated thanks to a $763,500 Brumby Government funding boost.

Visiting the Geelong Hospital campus to inspect progress on the new emergency department and announce the equipment grants, Health Minister Daniel Andrews said the funding would be used to replace equipment which was now becoming outdated.

The funding will provide eight new anaesthetic machines for the theatre suite and a new and modern ultrasound system for the imaging area.

“This Brumby Government funding will provide Barwon Health with the most modern technology now available and will help ensure that Victorian hospitals stay at the forefront of the introduction of new technology,” Mr Andrews said.

“It is part of $225 million announced in the last State Budget to replace medical equipment throughout the hospitals and to help upgrade buildings and engineering infrastructure.

“Our hospitals need to keep up with the latest technology to ensure they continue to provide the best possible care to patients.

“This funding enables our hospitals to take advantage of advances in technology and buy the most up-to-date systems to improve patient treatment and diagnosis.

“The Brumby Government is continuing with its significant investment in rebuilding and improving hospitals.”

Mr Andrews said work was progressing on the $26.1 million redevelopment of the emergency department, which is due for completion in December.

The new emergency department will cover 2154 square metres – more than double the size of the current emergency department.

Mr Andrews said the equipment grants and the emergency department redevelopment come on top of record funding to Barwon Health of more than $228 million in 2007/08, a massive increase of more than $114 million or 99.9 per cent since 1999.