Tara Murray
Patients would have noticed a change at the Sunshine Hospital Emergency Department last week, with the first stage of the major redevelopment and expansion open.
The $34.9 million redevelopment started in 2019, with the completed project expected to open later this year.
The first stage, opened last Wednesday, includes a new entrance closer to the Furlong Road end of Majorca Street. The old entrance and triage, which was also on Majorca Street, are no longer accessible.
Western Health said the project would support the hospital to provide people in the growing western suburbs with timely and world-class medical care.
The emergency department treats about 85,000 patients each year, making it one of the busiest in the state.
It’s expected that an extra 59,000 patients will be treated each year in the department after the redevelopment has been completed, with the number of beds to have more than doubled.
The redevelopment will double the number of beds available in the emergency department and provide an expanded kids-only section, specifically designed to provide about 19,700 children a year a calmer, more compassionate environment to receive emergency care.
The department will also include a mental health and alcohol and other drug crisis hub which can fast-track patients who need urgent assistance, freeing up the emergency department for other patients.
It will have a 24-hour short stay unit to treat people with mental health or issues with alcohol or other drugs.
An official opening of the new entrance is expected this week.
The opening of the new entrance means there have been changes to access routes in and around the hospital and emergency department. Patients and visitors are encouraged to ask for help if needed.
