The Napthine government is promising to build a $120 million specialist cardiac hospital in Clayton to cater for rising demand for heart care.
The hospital, to be built on the grounds of Monash Medical Centre, would be the first stand-alone hospital dedicated to cardiac services in Australia.
The Premier will announce on Thursday morning that the Coalition plans to provide $70 million for the project and that Monash Health – Victoria’s largest health service – will provide another $50 million.
The Coalition has not yet committed to a time frame for the hospital to be built, though.
The announcement comes as a 230-bed children’s hospital is being built next to the Monash Medical Centre in Clayton. It is due to in 2016.
While there is a worldwide trend towards building more specialist hospitals to care for people with heart disease or diabetes, for example, the announcement is likely to be controversial.
It comes ahead of the Coalition releasing its long-promised “Health Capital and Resources Plan,” which was expected to map out areas of greatest demand for new health services across the state.
Fairfax Media understands that hospitals in Melbourne’s west and northern suburbs in particular have been struggling with rising demand in recent years.
Monash Health cares for people living in the marginal electorates of Bentleigh and Carrum, which could decide the state election in November.
In a press release, Premier Napthine said the planned five-storey cardiac hospital would replace Monash Medical Centre’s current cardiac department – one of the busiest in the state.
“Heart disease remains a major killer here in Victoria, with 20 Victorians dying every day from heart disease,” Dr Napthine said.
“Demand for cardiac services is growing, but space constraints at the existing facilities at Monash Medical Centre mean that expansion is not an option.”
Health Minister David Davis said dedicated, stand-alone cardiac hospitals had been successful in many other major cities overseas.
“A purpose-built Monash Heart Hospital will deliver improved clinical care to patients, and a much better environment for both staff and patients,” he said.
Mr Davis said it would also increase Monash Health’s ability to attract and retain leading clinicians and researchers to further develop the hospital as a research centre.
He said the Coalition’s commitment to the hospital is part of the government’s five-year cardiac plan, which was launched at Monash Medical Centre earlier this year.
This story first appeared in The Age.
