Department of Health

New public surgery centre to open in Blackburn

Victorians needing elective surgery will get the tailored care they need faster, thanks to a new public surgery centre set to open in Melbourne’s east later this year.

11/08/22
Image of Bellbird private hospital in Victoria

The Victorian Government today announced that Bellbird Private Hospital in Blackburn will be transformed into a dedicated public planned surgery centre, helping more than 5,700 Victorians each year to receive surgical care once fully operational.  

The new centre will be operated by Eastern Health and consist of four operating theatres, a ten-bed day procedure unit, 43 inpatient beds and offer a range of services including gynaecology and general surgery. 

Up to 95 existing staff in both clinical and non-clinical roles, already familiar with the site, will be offered ongoing employment to retain their skills and expertise for when the new centre opens.  

This is the second private hospital repurposed by the Victorian Government as a planned surgery centre, with Frankston Private Hospital on track to transition into a public health service in September.  

Together, once fully operational, the two facilities will deliver close to 15,000 surgeries each year.  

The initiative is part of the Victorian Government’s $1.5 Billion COVID Catch Up Plan – the state’s long-term strategy to reform the elective surgery system so every Victorian family can get the care they need, when they need it.  

Victoria’s health services will gradually build up to deliver a record 240,000 surgeries every year by 2024 – that’s an additional 40,000 procedures annually compared to pre-pandemic levels. 

Read the media release for more information.

Reviewed 11 August 2022

Health.vic

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