Upgrades to the Ballarat Base Hospital are a step closer to completion, with a builder appointed to deliver the final works.
Private construction group Built has been appointed for the last stage of the $595 million redevelopment, which includes a new multi-level tower, helipad and redesigned main entrance on Sturt Street.
The new tower will feature a state-of-the-art theatre suite, a women’s and children’s hub and an extra 100 inpatient and short-stay beds.
The helipad will make it easier to transfer critical patients to the emergency department on the tower’s ground floor and to major trauma hospitals in Melbourne.
A new main entrance will also aim to improve access for patients and families and deliver safe drop-off zones and short-term parking.
Construction on the new energy plant and support services building are nearing the halfway mark, with the new tower expected to be built by 2027.
Once the upgrades are completed, the new hospital will be able to treat around 18,000 more emergency patients and an extra 14,500 inpatients a year.
