More than 50 million dollars has been announced to deliver a new helipad and additional car parks for Ballarat Base Hospital.
Minister for Health, Mary Anne Thomas, says the investment into staff and patient car parks will help ease safety concerns for shift workers walking to their car each night.
“The additional car parking spaces, a further 400 spaces, will double the car parking capacity here at Ballarat.”
“And we know that this was a really key issue for the community of Ballarat,” she said.
While Ballarat Base Hospital already has a working helipad, the Minister for Health explained the new helipad will be able to accommodate for larger helicopters, reduce the impacts of downdraught and streamline transport of patients to operating theatres.
“The new helipad will be vitally important. It will enable the immediate transfer of patients direct to theatres and the emergency department.”
“In an emergency, every second counts,” she said.
The investment comes after a half a billion-dollar commitment by the Victorian Government to build a new emergency department, operating theatres, a women and children’s hub and 100 additional inpatient and short stay beds.
While construction on the car park is set to commence later this year, the helipad and new tower will not be complete until 2027.
