By Jesse Graham
AFTER 17 months of refurbishment works, the Healesville Hospital is servicing patients from around the valley, with Health Minister Jill Hennessy officially opening the venue on Monday.
Ms Hennessy visited the hospital on Monday, 6 February, to officially open the hospital and tour the site, with the venue operational and taking in patients.
Aunty Joy Murphy Wandin performed a Welcome to Country to guests, Eastern Health staff and politicians, and noted that she gave birth to her first child in the hospital.
“I would just like to begin by saying this is one of the proudest moments of my life,” she said.
“I just feel today that, with so much energy, so much advocacy that’s gone into reviving this hospital, maintaining this service and more that we have, I want to thank very much the people who were on the campaign trail.
“This is a very touching moment for me and many others who were born in Healesville.”
The opening follows a long period of works from September 2015, with $8.8 million provided by the government to rebuild and expend the building and its services.
The new hospital features a new operating theatre, single-bed private rooms and a six-chair renal dialysis unit, as well as a new patient lounge and dining space.
Eastern Health’s Paul Leyden pointed out a brick feature wall in the dining space to guests, noting that it featured the original brick wall from the hospital, brickwork added in the expansion, and new works as part of the recent rebuild, summing up the hospital’s 60-year history.
Ms Hennessy said that private rooms were “the holy grail in the public health system”, and praised the new building’s features.
“I think it is a day worth celebrating today, because not only are we seeing an expansion of some of the excellent health services that will be provided here, but there are new services,” she said.
“To come in the front and see where renal dialysis is being provided with gorgeous windows and natural light, I can’t tell you what that does for the patients and their spirit and soul as they have to deal with the great challenges of dialysis.
“To come into a health service that is providing more primary care, extra palliative care services, good pre and post ante natal care, to look at how we continue to support communities and provide good healthcare closer to home … it’s something you should be extraordinarily proud of.”
Eildon MP Cindy McLeish, whose party was in government when the initial funding was announced, said the day was a “proud moment” for her, the community and Eastern Health.
“The first time I walked in, to have a look at where the staff area was, I couldn’t believe how good it was,” she said.
“It’s going to be such a huge morale booster for them and the community, and the word will get around – it’s beautiful.”
Ms McLeish said the new building would service residents in the Healesville area and surrounds, but also residents in the Upper Yarra region, who would no longer have to travel to Ferntree Gully or Ringwood for some services.
