ACCESS to some of Latrobe Regional Hospital’s main areas and departments will be hampered over coming months as multi-million dollar upgrades are underway.
With the hospital’s main reception area and adjacent drop off zone set to be redeveloped as part of the $22 million Gippsland Cancer Care Centre upgrade, interim access arrangements will be implemented.
LRH chief executive Peter Craighead said construction of the new entrance would begin in January and should take about six months to complete.
He said during this time, patients and visitors would access the hospital via the Gippsland Cancer Care Centre.
The drop off zone and the bus stop would not be accessible for about 18 months due to the building works, he estimated.
“During this time Latrobe Valley Buslines will pick up and drop off from the bus stops along the Princes Highway,” he said.
“Visitors arriving by bus will walk along the path that leads to the main car park. There are crossings which enable pedestrians to cross the road safely.”
Mr Craighead said building works were also underway on the development of the allied health department.
“This will mean a change in access to the allied health corridor with outpatients, visitors and clients accessing allied health via the Flynn ward entrance,” he said.
“There will be access to the hospital via the Monash School of Rural Health entry, however a detour will be in place while the corridor is closed.
“There have already been changes to disabled parking, including additional disabled parking bays at the Flynn entrance to the hospital.
“Latrobe Regional Hospital sincerely apologises for any inconvenience caused as a result of the building works,” Mr Craighead said.