Sunshine Hospital is experiencing a baby boom.
The hospital welcomed 5357 babies between July 1, 2015, and June 30 this year – up from 5150 in the previous 12 months.
Among the new arrivals in 2015-16 were 70 sets of twins.
Western Health operations executive director Russell Harrison said population growth in the western suburbs was placing increased demand on the hospital’s maternity services.
“We are continuing to work with our partners in the western region to support women having choice and being able to birth in the most appropriate setting for them,” he said.
The number of births at Sunshine Hospital is expected to exceed more than 7000 a year by 2026.
To help meet the demand, the Victorian government is building a $200 million hospital for women and children at Sunshine.
The new hospital will include 20 delivery rooms, 173 beds, 39 special-care nursery cots and four operating theatres.
