Bendigo Hospital expansion approved to address regional health demand surge

The Victorian government has approved a $210 million expansion of Bendigo Health that will add two new clinical wings to the hospital's campus on Lucan Street, delivering a dedicated maternity centre, a 24-bed paediatric ward, and two additional surgical theatres.

The announcement responds to years of concern from clinicians and patient advocates about capacity pressures at the hospital, which serves a catchment of more than 300,000 people across central Victoria. Emergency department presentations have grown by 22 per cent over the past five years, while maternity admissions are up 18 per cent following strong population growth in Bendigo and its surrounding townships.

Health Minister Mary-Anne Thomas said the project would support more than 700 construction jobs during the build phase and create approximately 280 permanent clinical and support positions on completion. "Bendigo Health is the engine room of healthcare for an enormous part of regional Victoria, and this investment reflects that responsibility," she said.

Bendigo Health chief executive John Mulder said the expansion would allow the hospital to repatriate patients who currently had to travel to Melbourne for specialist services, particularly in maternity, paediatrics, and complex surgical cases. He said the new theatres alone would allow the health service to clear its elective surgery waitlist within 18 months of opening.

An expression of interest process for the construction contract is expected to be released in the next quarter.

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