The administration of Daniel Andrews will invest $1.5 billion to restore and rename a major hospital in honor of the late Queen Elizabeth II.
If Labor wins the next election, the money would be used to improve the Maroondah Hospital in Melbourne’s east, as stated by the premier on Sunday.
A day ago, the opposition Liberals offered $400 million if elected to power.
Mr. Andrews stated that Queen Elizabeth holds a special place in the hearts of Victorians.
A re-elected Andrews Labor Government will renovate and expand Maroondah Hospital before renaming it in honor of Her Majesty.
Daniel Andrews has pledged to contribute $1.5 billion to restore and rename a major hospital in honor of the late Queen Elizabeth I.
If Labor wins the next election, the money would be used to improve the Maroondah Hospital in Melbourne’s east, as stated by the premier on Sunday.
The Queen Elizabeth II Hospital would feature new operating rooms, outpatient facilities, and specialized care areas.
In addition, a new emergency department and a larger medical imaging unit would be incorporated in the reconstruction.
Two six-story inpatient towers with space for an extra 200 beds and the ability to handle an additional 9,000 patients will also be built.
“The entire hospital is being reconstructed,” Mr. Andrews stated.
The reconstruction is anticipated to cost $1.5 billion, commence in 2025, and be completed in 2029, creating 2,500 jobs.
Mr. Andrews criticized the opposition’s $400 million pledge as insufficient.
He remarked, “That’s why we’re going to build the Queen Elizabeth II hospital for more than a billion dollars.”
They did not truly commit to renovating Maroondah; rather, they committed to to partially renovating it.
Mr. Andrews stated, “Queen Elizabeth holds a special place in the affections of Victorians.”
“(The opposition) is not especially significant to what we’re announcing today, as evidenced by the utter insufficiency of the commitments they made yesterday,”
According to the opposition’s pledge, the new hospital will feature high-priced amenities such as a new emergency department, intensive care unit, and intensive care unit, an expanded cancer centre, additional surgical suites, and a larger staff parking lot.
Details of the renovation and expansion will be discussed with Eastern Health, the hospital’s operator, and the local community.
On Saturday, opposition health spokeswoman Georgie Crozier said that an additional 100 beds would be added, bringing the total number of beds to over 420.
This hospital’s mental health services, intensive care, general surgery, and general medical capacities will be enhanced.