Werribee’s newest hospital is up and running.
More than two years after the first sod was turned, St Vincent’s Private Hospital Werribee is open, getting through five surgeries on its first day of operation last Tuesday.
Dr Iain Skinner, who advocated strongly for St Vincent’s to build a hospital in the west, had the honour of performing the first surgery.
The $95 million hospital includes six operating theatres, 112 beds, a day procedure unit, day oncology/infusion centre, rehabilitation facilities and suites for radiology, pathology and consulting.
The hospital offers orthopaedics, urology and general surgery and ear, nose and throat services, as well as sleep studies services. An on-site 80-bed aged-care service opened last June.
The hospital’s chief executive and director of nursing, Christine Flett, said it was great to see all the planning come to fruition.
“It was a very exciting feeling in the building with all our new staff,” she said. “The whole patient process was very smooth.
“We’re growing the business slowly so we can make sure that we have everything going smoothly.
“All our patients that are coming to book in are from the local area … that’s what’s so important about us being here – that we’re really seen as a local hospital.”
The hospital also features the first cardiac catheter laboratory in the west, with the first procedure to be performed this Thursday.
From February 26, the hospital will admit expectant mums to its maternity ward and special-care nursery. To date, 50 pregnant women are booked in to have their babies delivered at the hospital between February and September.
Ms Flett said the hospital had employed 80 staff, all Wyndham residents, to meet current demand. More positions will be filled as the hospital grows to capacity.
