SUNSHINE Hospital’s new acute services building and special-care nursery will improve treatment and help Western Health deal with an increasing number of births.
Chief executive Associate Professor Alex Cockram (pictured) had a cuddle with 10-week-old Molly last week to celebrate the official opening of the $90.5 million building.
Molly was in the new centre for six weeks, waiting for a blood transfusion after being moved from the special-care nursery.
Mother Trina Paskins says taking Molly home on Good Friday was the best Easter present the family could ask for. “The new facility is great, but it’s the lovely nurses and doctors at the hospital who really made a difficult time so much easier.”
The building opened in late February and has 128 inpatient beds, a 26-cot special-care nursery, 30 same-day medical beds, and diagnostic and clinical support offices.
Ms Cockram said investment in the new building had been the largest made at the hospital in recent years.
“Birthing rates at Sunshine Hospital increased by an extraordinary 18 per cent last financial year,” she said.
“Significant changes needed to be made to accommodate the increased demand on the birthing unit with a predicted 5400 births for this year.”
Sunshine Hospital is the third-largest maternity site in Victoria.
“The new special-care nursery is a wonderful, bright and attractive ward with all the facilities necessary to provide a supportive environment for the babies and their families.”
—Melissa Cunningham
