By ANEEKA SIMONIS
KANGAN Drive in Berwick will soon become south-east’s go-to medical hub with a new multi-million hospital expected to begin construction within months.
St John of God (SJOG) together with Generation Healthcare REIT last week announced plans to build a $120 million hospital on Kangan Drive opposite Casey Hospital.
The hospital is expected to open in July 2017.
St John of God Berwick CEO Lisa Norman said the new hospital would provide more than 190 new beds, six operating theatres, two endoscopy theatres, a cardiac/vascular catheter laboratory, six birthing suites and about 350 basement car parks.
“It will also provide the first Intensive Care Unit for the region and a comprehensive range of cardiac services, including a dedicated cardiac unit,” she said.
St John of God Pathology and St John of God home nursing service will also be expanded.
Ms Norman said the new development would help meet the growing health care demands of a “rapidly expanding” region of Cardinia Shire and City of Casey.
SJOG recently opened a new day oncology unit on Kangan Drive.
The new development will offer additional cancer services to improve patient diagnosis and treatment options.
SJOG in Berwick currently operates out of the historically significant Gibbs Street.
All existing services provided at the current hospital will be relocated to the new Kangan Drive facility along with the expanded range of new services.
The Gibbs Street facility will also undergo significant upgrades to become a dedicated outpatient rehabilitation centre – bringing the total project costs to around $150 million.
The current hospital on Gibbs Street has been operating since 1939.
“Two hospitals providing a comprehensive range of services will allow us to continue to deliver exceptional care to a larger number of patients with a broader range of health conditions,” Ms Norman said.
The development project is expected to create 200 extra jobs.
Future plans have been developed for a third building that will take the site capacity to 316 beds and 12 operating theatres.
