Southern Health welcomes State Government commitment to children in Melbourne’s south-east
Families in Melbourne’s south-east are the big winners in the State Government’s 2010-11 Budget announced today.The State Government has committed $10.9 million for interim works to go ahead in building an expanded facility for Australia’s third largest children’s hospital, Monash Children’s.
The funding will provide for 10 extra paediatric beds, four neonatal intensive care beds and five paediatric intensive care beds.
Southern Health Acting Chief Executive Siva Sivarajah said the announcement was extremely pleasing and would be warmly welcomed and appreciated by the growing number of families visiting Monash Children’s.
"We are working to make sure our infrastructure and services can meet a growing population in Melbourne’s south-eastern suburbs and beyond,” Mr Sivarajah said.
“Today’s announcement by the State Government is a great show of confidence in Southern Health’s ability to deliver timely and vital services to where it’s needed the most.”
Monash Children’s Medical Director, Professor Nick Freezer said these works at Monash Medical Centre Clayton will allow Southern Health to treat more children from Melbourne’s south-east, Gippsland, and the Mornington Peninsula.
Southern Health admitted more than 27,000 children last year and treated 47,000 emergency cases.
“The fast growing south-east region of Melbourne, Victoria is home to over 330,000 children aged between 0-19 years. We offer a single integrated newborn, child and adolescent service conveniently right where the children need it.
“We thank the State Government for their commitment in sharing our vision to provide the best possible patient care possible.”
Monash Children’s, Southern Health’s multidisciplinary Children’s Program, provides a fully integrated primary, secondary and tertiary service. It also plays a central role in delivery of many state-wide services.
For more information contact Southern Health Media Manager Suzana Talevski on 9594 2747 or 0409 023 936.