Latrobe Regional Hospital will receive a $2.6 million refurbishment as part of the State Government’s $200 million Regional Health Infrastructure Fund.
An additional six special care nursery cots will be added, doubling the number of cots to 12, and boosting the hospital’s capacity to care for premature babies.
The refurbishment will also include the remodelling of three paediatric rooms, additional maternity facilities with ensuites and upgraded nursery and ancillary areas for visitors and staff.
Latrobe Regional Hospital chief executive Peter Craighead said the additional cots would provide better facilities for young families to seek care closer to home.
“At the moment we often have to transport babies to Melbourne because our nursery is full,” Mr Craighead said.
“We’re often at capacity or above capacity … so it means they can be looked after closer to home.
“It will provide more jobs, we’re very confident there will be some local construction jobs with it.”
LRH will also be one of four regional Gippsland health services to benefit from an additional $332,000 Victorian Telehealth Specialist Clinic Initiative to assist regional Victorians attend specialist doctor appointments from their own home or local health service.
The refurbishment is expected to be completed in about 18 months.
Full coverage in The Express on Thursday.
